tuōnídàishuǐ

拖泥带水

Word · Idiom

messy; long-winded; indecisive

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 4 examples
1.

idiom

to do things in a messy or complicated way; to be long-winded or indecisive in speech or action

Describes speech, writing, or actions that lack conciseness and decisiveness. Often carries a negative connotation implying inefficiency or lack of clarity.

Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
de的
 ,
shuō说
bàn半
tiān天
yě也
shuō说
bu不
qīng清
chu楚
 。

He always speaks in a long-winded way, talking for ages without making things clear.

Xiě写
wén文
zhāng章
yào要
jiǎn简
jié洁
míng明
liǎo了
 ,
bù不
yào要
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
 。

Writing should be concise and clear, not long-winded.

Show 2 more examples
Zuò做
shì事
yào要
guǒ果
duàn断
 ,
bù不
néng能
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
 。

One must be decisive in doing things, not sloppy or hesitant.

Zhè这
gè个
bào报
gào告
xiě写
de得
tài太
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
le了
 ,
xū需
yào要
shān删
jiǎn减
 。

This report is written in too convoluted a manner and needs to be cut down.