支支吾吾

zhīzhīwúwú
idiom #39,709

Meanings

  1. 1 to hem and haw (idiom)
  2. 2 to stammer; mumble evasively
  3. 3 to stall by speaking vaguely

Examples

HSK 3
Bié zhīzhīwúwú de, yǒu huà zhíshuō.
Stop mumbling - just say what you mean.
HSK 5
Tā bèi wèn dào shí zhīzhīwúwú, dá bù shànglái.
When asked, he stammered and couldn't come up with an answer.
HSK 7-9
Tā zhīzhīwúwú de bùkěn shuō shíhuà.
She hemmed and hawed, unwilling to tell the truth.

Tips

history
From Wenkang's Qing-dynasty 《儿女英雄传》 chapter 5: 我既这等苦苦相问,你自然就该侃侃而谈,怎么问了半日,你一味的吞吞吐吐,支支吾吾 - 'I've pressed you so hard, you should speak openly; why have you spent the whole time hesitating and mumbling?' The idiom pairs naturally with 吞吞吐吐.
usage
Always negative - implies evasion or guilt. Describes someone trying to dodge a direct question. Common paired with 吞吞吐吐 (hemming and hawing) for emphasis. Often followed by + verb (支支吾吾).

Stroke Order

zhī