摇晃

搖晃

yáohuàng

verb HSK 7-9 #10,844

Meanings

1 to sway; to wobble
2 to rock back and forth; to shake

Characters

to shake; to sway

to sway; to rock

Both characters mean 'to sway' — together they emphasize a continuous, unsteady rocking motion.

Examples

地震的时候，房子剧烈摇晃。

Dìzhèn de shíhou, fángzi jùliè yáohuàng.

During the earthquake, the building shook violently.

小船在海浪中摇晃。

Xiǎochuán zài hǎilàng zhōng yáohuàng.

The small boat rocked in the waves.

他喝醉了，走路摇摇晃晃的。

Tā hē zuìle, zǒulù yáoyáohuànghuàng de.

He was drunk, walking unsteadily.

Tips

usage

The reduplicated form 摇摇晃晃 (yáoyáo-huànghuàng) is very common and describes an unsteady, wobbly movement — like a drunk person walking or a rickety table.

Stroke Order

摇 yáo

晃 huàng