equivocate; prevaricate; hem and haw
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to equivocate; to speak evasively; to hem and haw; to prevaricate
literaryUsed in literary or formal contexts (书). Describes evasive speech patterns, often due to guilt, uncertainty, or reluctance to answer directly. Also written as 枝捂 or 枝梧.
Tā他
zhī支
wú吾
le了
bàn半
tiān天
，
yě也
shuō说
bù不
chū出
gè个
suǒ所
yǐ以
rán然
lái来
。
He hemmed and hawed for a long time but couldn't give a clear reason.
Miàn面
duì对
zhì质
wèn问
，
tā他
zhī支
wú吾
qí其
cí词
，
xiǎn显
rán然
yǒu有
suǒ所
yǐn隐
mán瞒
。
When confronted with questions, he equivocated, clearly hiding something.
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Nǐ你
bié别
zhī支
wú吾
le了
，
kuài快
shuō说
shí实
huà话
ba吧
！
Stop evading and tell the truth!