Definition
兜圈子 is a separable verb (离合词) with a literal meaning (walk around in circles / take a roundabout route) and a figurative meaning (beat around the bush / speak evasively). You can split 兜 and 圈子 to insert time words, measure words, or modifiers — e.g. 兜了一个大圈子 ('took a big detour') or 兜了半天圈子 ('beat around the bush for a long time'). The figurative sense is very common in spoken Chinese.
v.o.
to walk around in circlesto go by a roundabout routeto beat around the bushto speak evasively
Examples
- 。Wǒmen dōu le yí gè dà juān cái zhǎo dào nà ge dìfang.We took a big detour before finally finding that place.
- ，。Nǐ yǒu huà zhí shuō, bié dōu juān.Say what you need to say — don't beat around the bush.
- ，。Tā dōu le bàn tiān juān, yě méi shuō chū zhòngdiǎn.He beat around the bush for ages without getting to the point.
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