Definition
捣鼓 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to tinker with, to fiddle with something' — often with the sense of moving things around, adjusting, or trying to fix. It can split to insert duration or measure words between 捣 and 鼓 (e.g., 捣了半天鼓). A less common meaning is 'to curse, to vilify', found mainly in some dialects. The first sense is by far the most frequent in everyday use.
v.o.
to tinker withto fiddle withto mess around with(less common) to curseto abuseto vilify
Examples
- 捣鼓。Tā zuì xǐhuan dǎo gǔ gè zhǒng diànzǐ shèbèi le.He loves to tinker with all kinds of electronic devices.
- 捣鼓，！Nǐ bié zài dǎo gǔ le, kuài guòlái chīfàn!Stop fiddling around and come eat!
- ，。Tā dǎo le bàn tiān gǔ, háishì méi xiū hǎo.He tinkered for a long time but still couldn't fix it.
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