speak haltingly; mutter; stammer
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
stammering; muttering; speaking haltingly
literaryLiterary term describing hesitant, indistinct speech. Often used interchangeably with the more common variant 嗫嚅 (niè rú). Typically appears in formal or classical contexts.
Tā他
rú嚅
niè嗫
zài再
sān三
，
zhōng终
shì是
shuō说
bu不
chū出
kǒu口
。
He hesitated and stammered repeatedly, but ultimately could not get the words out.
Rú嚅
niè嗫
zhe着
chún唇
，
tā她
dī低
shēng声
dào道
qiàn歉
。
Muttering with her lips, she apologized in a low voice.
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Nà那
hái孩
zi子
rú嚅
niè嗫
de地
huí回
dá答
lǎo老
shī师
de的
tí提
wèn问
。
The child answered the teacher's question haltingly.