storytelling cliffhanger; keep in suspense
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to stop at a cliffhanger while storytelling to attract the audience to continue listening
Originally refers to the traditional storytelling performance art in teahouses and theaters.
Shuō说
shū书
rén人
zuì最
huì会
mài卖
guān关
zi子
le了
，
měi每
dào到
guān关
jiàn键
shí时
kè刻
jiù就
tíng停
xià下
lái来
hē喝
chá茶
。
Storytellers are best at leaving cliffhangers, always stopping for tea at the crucial moment.
Jiù旧
shí时
chá茶
guǎn馆
lǐ里
de的
shuō说
shū书
xiān先
sheng生
cháng常
yòng用
mài卖
guān关
zi子
de的
shǒu手
fǎ法
xī吸
yǐn引
tīng听
zhòng众
dì第
èr二
tiān天
zài再
lái来
。
In old teahouses, storytellers often used cliffhanger techniques to attract audiences to return the next day.
verb
to deliberately keep someone in suspense; to be deliberately mysterious at a critical moment to make the other party anxious
informalOften used to criticize someone for not getting to the point quickly. Carries a slightly negative connotation.
Yǒu有
huà话
kuài快
shuō说
，
bié别
mài卖
guān关
zi子
le了
！
If you have something to say, say it quickly—don't keep us in suspense!
Tā他
jiù就
xǐ喜
huan欢
mài卖
guān关
zi子
，
fēi非
yào要
děng等
dào到
zuì最
hòu后
cái才
jiē揭
xiǎo晓
dá答
àn案
。
He just loves keeping people guessing, insisting on waiting until the very end to reveal the answer.
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Bié别
zài再
mài卖
guān关
zi子
le了
，
kuài快
gào告
su诉
wǒ我
men们
jié结
guǒ果
ba吧
。
Stop keeping us in suspense and quickly tell us the result.