Chinese–EnglishWith examples

徘徊

pái huái · pai huai

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to pace back and forth
  2. to dither; to hesitate
  3. (of sales figures etc) to fluctuate
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Hesitating at the gym

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)在(zài)门口(ménkǒu)徘徊(páihuái)什么(shénme)？

    Dengdeng, why are you pacing around at the door?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)在(zài)想(xiǎng)要不要(yàobùyào)去(qù)健身房(jiànshēnfáng)。

    I am thinking about whether to go to the gym.

  3. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)上个月(shànggèyuè)也(yě)在(zài)这里(zhèlǐ)徘徊(páihuái)过(guò)。

    You also paced around here last month.

  4. Dengdeng

    是啊(shìa)，我(wǒ)每次(měicì)都(dōu)徘徊(páihuái)一会儿(yīhuìr)，然后(ránhòu)回家(huíjiā)。

    Yes, every time I pace for a while, then go home.

  5. Liangliang

    今天(jīntiān)我(wǒ)陪(péi)你(nǐ)进去(jìnqù)！

    Today I will go in with you!

  6. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)看(kàn)，今天(jīntiān)健身房(jiànshēnfáng)关门(guānmén)了(le)。

    Look, the gym is closed today.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)在(zài)门(mén)口(kǒu)徘(pái)徊(huái)了(le)很(hěn)久(jiǔ)，最(zuì)后(hòu)还(hái)是(shi)没(méi)进(jìn)去(qù)。

He paced back and forth at the door for a long time, but in the end he still didn't go in.

02

最(zuì)近(jìn)房(fáng)价(jià)一(yì)直(zhí)在(zài)涨(zhǎng)和(hé)跌(diē)之(zhī)间(jiān)徘(pái)徊(huái)。

Recently housing prices have been fluctuating between rising and falling.

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Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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