stick up; prick up; brace up
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to stand up; to stick up; to prick up
dialectOriginally dialectal, referring to physical objects (ears, hair, fur) standing erect or bristling.
Xiǎo小
gǒu狗
zhī支
leng棱
zhe着
ěr耳
duo朵
tīng听
wài外
miàn面
de的
dòng动
jìng静
。
The puppy pricked up its ears to listen to the noises outside.
Tā他
gāng刚
shuì睡
xǐng醒
，
tóu头
fa发
dōu都
zhī支
leng棱
zhe着
。
He had just woken up, and his hair was sticking up everywhere.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Nà那
zhī只
māo猫
shòu受
jīng惊
le了
，
bèi背
shàng上
de的
máo毛
quán全
zhī支
leng棱
qǐ起
lái来
le了
。
The cat was startled, and all the fur on its back bristled.
verb
to brace oneself; to pull oneself together; to get energized
informalModern colloquial and internet slang usage, derived from the physical meaning of 'standing up straight'. Often used as '支棱起来'.
Bié别
huī灰
xīn心
，
nǐ你
děi得
zhī支
leng棱
qǐ起
lái来
a啊
！
Don't lose heart—you need to pull yourself together!
Shī失
bài败
bù不
kě可
pà怕
，
guān关
jiàn键
shì是
yào要
zhī支
leng棱
qǐ起
lái来
jì继
xù续
nǔ努
lì力
。
Failure isn't scary; the key is to brace up and keep trying.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Kàn看
tā他
xiàn现
zài在
duō多
zhī支
leng棱
，
gēn跟
yǐ以
qián前
wán完
quán全
bù不
yī一
yàng样
le了
。
Look how energized he is now—completely different from before.