turn a millstone; pace anxiously in circles
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to turn around a millstone (as draft animals do when grinding grain)
dialect方言用语。本义指牲畜拉着磨盘转圈磨面粉的动作。
Lǘ驴
zi子
zhèng正
zài在
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhuàn转
mò磨
。
The donkey is turning the millstone in the courtyard.
Guò过
qù去
nóng农
cūn村
kào靠
shēng牲
kou口
zhuàn转
mò磨
lái来
jiā加
gōng工
liáng粮
shi食
。
In the past, rural areas relied on livestock to turn millstones for processing grain.
verb
to pace in circles when anxious and unable to think of a solution; to walk around in circles (due to worry)
dialect方言口语。比喻人因焦急、烦躁或不知所措而在原地来回走动、转圈。常用于北京话及北方方言。
Tā他
jí急
de得
xiàng像
rè热
guō锅
shàng上
de的
mǎ蚂
yǐ蚁
，
zài在
wū屋
lǐ里
zhí直
zhuàn转
mò磨
。
He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing in circles inside the room.
Nǐ你
bié别
zài在
zhèr这
zhuàn儿
mò转
le磨
kuài了
，
zuò快
xià坐
lái下
xiǎng来
bàn想
fǎ办
法
。
Stop pacing around here, sit down quickly and think of a solution.
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Yī一
tīng听
dào到
nà那
gè个
huài坏
xiāo消
xi息
，
tā他
jiù就
zài在
yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
zhuàn转
mò磨
kāi开
le了
。
As soon as he heard that bad news, he started pacing in circles in the courtyard.