Definition
折腾 (zhē teng) means to put someone through unnecessary trouble or to mess around inefficiently, often with a sense of pointless repetition or torment. Unlike 耗 (hào), which focuses on consuming or wasting resources (time, money), 折腾 emphasizes the disruptive, bothersome process. It is distinct from 辗转 (zhǎn zhuǎn), which describes physical tossing and turning (e.g., in bed) or passing from place to place, without the connotation of causing trouble.
verb
to put (someone) through unnecessary trouble or tormentto mess around (inefficiently)to waste or squander (time, money)
Examples
- 折腾，。Tā měitiān zhē teng háizi xué gāngqín, háizi dōu kuài shòu bù liǎo le.He torments his child into learning piano every day; the child can hardly bear it.
- 折腾，。Bié zài zhē teng zhèxiē wénjiàn le, wǒmen yào de shì jiéguǒ.Stop messing around with these papers; we need results.
- 折腾。Tā bǎ jiā lǐ de qián dōu zhē teng guāng le.He squandered all the family's money.
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