swallow and spit; handle large volume; speak hesitantly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to swallow and spit; to take in and send out in large quantities; to handle (cargo, passengers, traffic)
Often used for ports, transport hubs, or cargo handling capacity. Can be used both literally (swallowing) and figuratively (handling flow).
Zhè这
gè个
gǎng港
kǒu口
de的
tūn吞
tǔ吐
liàng量
hěn很
dà大
。
This port has a large cargo handling capacity.
Huǒ火
chē车
zhàn站
zhòu昼
yè夜
bù不
tíng停
de地
tūn吞
tǔ吐
zhe着
lái来
wǎng往
de的
lǚ旅
kè客
。
The train station handles incoming and outgoing passengers non-stop day and night.
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Zhè这
tiáo条
guǎn管
dào道
měi每
tiān天
tūn吞
tǔ吐
dà大
liàng量
de的
tiān天
rán然
qì气
。
This pipeline processes a large volume of natural gas every day.
verb
to speak evasively; to hem and haw; to be ambiguous in speech or writing
Commonly used in the phrase 吞吐其词 or as 吞吞吐吐 (AABB form). Implies reluctance to speak clearly or fully.
Miàn面
duì对
zhì质
wèn问
，
tā他
tūn吞
tǔ吐
qí其
cí词
，
bù不
yuàn愿
zhèng正
miàn面
huí回
dá答
。
Faced with questioning, he hemmed and hawed, unwilling to answer directly.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
tūn吞
tūn吞
tǔ吐
tǔ吐
de的
，
ràng让
rén人
zháo着
jí急
。
He always speaks so hesitantly, which makes people anxious.