鬼鬼祟祟

guǐguǐsuìsuì

adjective #9,436

Meanings

AABB reduplication of 鬼祟 (sneaky).

HSK 3

你鬼鬼祟祟地在干什么？

Nǐ guǐguǐsuìsuì de zài gànshénme?

What are you doing sneaking around?

HSK 3

他鬼鬼祟祟地走进了房间。

Tā guǐguǐsuìsuì de zǒujìn le fángjiān.

He sneaked into the room furtively.

HSK 3

别鬼鬼祟祟的，有什么话就直说。

Bié guǐguǐsuìsuì de, yǒu shénme huà jiù zhíshuō.

Stop being so sneaky - just say what you want to say.

memory

鬼 (ghost) + 祟 (evil spirit/haunting). Someone acting 鬼鬼祟祟 is moving like a ghost - furtive, hidden, and up to no good.

grammar

This is an AABB reduplication pattern (鬼鬼祟祟 from 鬼祟). AABB adjectives are common in Chinese: 开开心心, 干干净净, 清清楚楚. They add emphasis and vividness.

鬼 guǐ

祟 suì