walk with short steps; pace back and forth
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to walk with short, light steps
literaryDescribes a refined, light gait, often used in classical poetry or literary descriptions.
Tā她
dié蹀
xiè躞
yú于
tíng庭
yuàn院
zhī之
zhōng中
，
zī姿
tài态
yōu优
yǎ雅
。
She walked with light, short steps in the courtyard, her posture elegant.
Yuè月
guāng光
xià下
，
tā他
dié蹀
xiè躞
dú独
xíng行
，
ruò若
yǒu有
suǒ所
sī思
。
Under the moonlight, he walked alone with small steps, deep in thought.
verb
to pace back and forth; to loiter
literaryImplies moving aimlessly or anxiously in a small area.
Tā他
zài在
mén门
wài外
dié蹀
xiè躞
liáng良
jiǔ久
，
bù不
gǎn敢
jìn进
qù去
。
He paced back and forth outside the door for a long time, not daring to enter.
Xīn心
xù绪
bù不
níng宁
，
tā他
zhǐ只
zài在
chuāng窗
qián前
dié蹀
xiè躞
。
Feeling unsettled, he could only pace back and forth by the window.
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Gǔ古
wén文
zhōng中
cháng常
yòng用
‘‘
dié蹀
xiè躞
’
xíng形
róng容
yóu犹
yù豫
bù不
dìng定
de的
yàng样
zi子
。
In classical texts, 'diéxiè' is often used to describe a hesitant, uncertain manner.