鬼鬼祟祟

guǐguǐsuìsuì

adjective #9,436

Meanings

AABB reduplication of 鬼祟 (sneaky).

你鬼鬼祟祟地在干什么？

Nǐ guǐguǐsuìsuì de zài gànshénme?

What are you doing sneaking around?

他鬼鬼祟祟地走进了房间。

Tā guǐguǐsuìsuì de zǒujìn le fángjiān.

He sneaked into the room furtively.

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