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摇摆不定

搖擺不定
yáobǎi-bùdìng
idiom #16,732

Meanings

  1. 1 indecisive; wavering
  2. 2 to vacillate; to be unable to make up one's mind

Characters

摇
yáo
to shake; to sway
摆
bǎi
to swing; to wave
不
bù
not
定
dìng
fixed; stable
Literally 'sway-swing-not-settled' - swinging back and forth without settling on a position.

Examples

他对这件事一直摇摆不定。
Tā duì zhè jiàn shì yīzhí yáobǎi-bùdìng.
He has been wavering on this matter the whole time.
选民摇摆不定，投票结果难以预测。
Xuǎnmín yáobǎi-bùdìng, tóupiào jiéguǒ nányǐ yùcè.
Voters are indecisive, making the election results hard to predict.

Tips

memory
Picture a pendulum swaying (摇摆) that never stops (不定) - someone who can't settle on a decision.

Stroke Order

摇 yáo
摆 bǎi
不 bù
定 dìng