鬼鬼祟祟

guǐguǐsuìsuì

adjective #9,436

Meanings

AABB reduplication of 鬼祟 (guǐsuì, sneaky)

Nǐ guǐguǐsuìsuì de zài gàn shénme?

What are you doing sneaking around?

Tā guǐguǐsuìsuì de zǒujìn le fángjiān.

He sneaked into the room furtively.

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