跌跌撞撞

diēdiēzhuàngzhuàng

adverb #24,053

Meanings

1 stumbling and staggering
2 lurching along
3 reeling as if about to fall

Characters

to fall; to trip

to bump; to collide

Examples

HSK 2

小孩学走路，跌跌撞撞的，很可爱。

Xiǎohái xué zǒulù, diēdiēzhuàngzhuàng de, hěn kě'ài.

The toddler learning to walk, stumbling and lurching, was very cute.

HSK 5

他喝醉了，跌跌撞撞地走回家。

Tā hēzuì le, diēdiēzhuàngzhuàng de zǒu huíjiā.

He was drunk and staggered home.

HSK 7-9

他跌跌撞撞地穿过人群。

Tā diēdiēzhuàngzhuàng de chuānguò rénqún.

He staggered through the crowd.

Tips

grammar

跌跌撞撞 is an AABB reduplicated form. 跌 means 'to fall' and 撞 means 'to bump'. The AABB reduplication vividly describes the manner - lurching from trip to bump repeatedly. It functions as an adverb before 地.

usage

Can be used literally (drunk or injured walking) or figuratively (a business stumbling through difficulties, e.g. 公司跌跌撞撞走到了今天).

Stroke Order

跌 diē

撞 zhuàng