circle around; beat around the bush
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to circle around; to go around in circles
neutralLiteral meaning, describing a physical circular movement.
Fēi飞
jī机
zài在
shù树
lín林
zi子
shàng上
kōng空
dōu兜
le了
liǎng两
gè个
quān圈
zi子
jiù就
fēi飞
zǒu走
le了
。
The plane circled twice over the woods and then flew away.
Xiǎo小
gǒu狗
zhuī追
zhe着
zì自
jǐ己
de的
wěi尾
ba巴
dōu兜
quān圈
zi子
。
The puppy is circling around chasing its own tail.
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Wèi为
le了
zhǎo找
tíng停
chē车
chǎng场
，
wǒ我
men们
zài在
zhè这
fù附
jìn近
dōu兜
le了
bàn半
tiān天
quān圈
zi子
。
We circled around this area for a long time looking for a parking lot.
verb
to beat around the bush; to not speak directly
informalFigurative meaning, used when someone avoids getting to the point.
Bié别
gēn跟
wǒ我
dōu兜
quān圈
zi子
，
yǒu有
huà话
zhí直
jié截
liǎo了
dàng当
dì地
shuō说
ba吧
。
Don't beat around the bush with me, just say what you have to say directly.
Tā他
huí回
dá答
wèn问
tí题
shí时
zǒng总
xǐ喜
huān欢
dōu兜
quān圈
zi子
，
cóng从
bù不
gěi给
gè个
zhǔn准
huà话
。
He always beats around the bush when answering questions, never giving a definite answer.
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Lǐng领
dǎo导
zài在
huì会
shàng上
dōu兜
le了
bàn半
tiān天
quān圈
zi子
，
zuì最
hòu后
hái还
shì是
méi没
shuō说
míng明
bai白
yù预
suàn算
de的
shì事
。
The leader beat around the bush for a long time at the meeting and still didn't clarify the budget issue in the end.