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摇摆不定

搖擺不定
yáobǎi-bùdìng
idiom #16,732

Meanings

  1. 1 indecisive; wavering
  2. 2 to vacillate; to be unable to make up one's mind

Characters

摇
yáo
to shake; to sway
摆
bǎi
to swing; to wave
不
bù
not
定
dìng
fixed; stable
Literally 'sway-swing-not-settled' — swinging back and forth without settling on a position.

Examples

他对这件事一直摇摆不定。
Tā duì zhè jiàn shì yīzhí yáobǎibùdìng.
He has been wavering on this matter the whole time.
选民摇摆不定，投票结果难以预测。
Xuǎnmín yáobǎibùdìng, tóupiào jiéguǒ nányǐ yùcè.
Voters are indecisive, making the election results hard to predict.

Tips

memory
Picture a pendulum swaying (摇摆) that never stops (不定) — someone who can't settle on a decision.

Stroke Order

摇 yáo
摆 bǎi
不 bù
定 dìng