晃荡

晃蕩

huàngdang

verb HSK 7-9 #15,979

Meanings

1 to sway; to rock back and forth
2 to wander about; to loaf around

Characters

to sway; to shake

to swing; to sway

Both characters mean 'sway,' reinforcing the image of aimless rocking or wandering.

Examples

HSK 3

他整天在街上晃荡，什么也不干。

Tā zhěngtiān zài jiēshàng huàngdang, shénme yě bù gàn.

He loafs around on the street all day, doing nothing.

HSK 7-9

船在水面上晃荡。

Chuán zài shuǐmiàn shàng huàngdang.

The boat is rocking on the water.

Tips

usage

晃荡 has two distinct uses: physical swaying (a boat, a pendulum) and idle wandering (loafing around). The wandering sense carries a disapproving tone, implying someone has nothing productive to do.

Stroke Order

晃 huàng

荡 dàng