Definition
支吾 means to speak evasively, to hedge, or to hem and haw — especially when avoiding a direct answer. It is often used in the reduplicated form 支支吾吾 (zhīzhīwúwú) to describe hesitant or evasive speech. The existing gloss 'to resist / to deal with' is misleading; the core meaning is about verbal evasion, not physical resistance or handling.
v
to prevaricateto hem and hawto be evasive (in speech)
Examples
- 支吾，。Tā zhī wú le bàn tiān, yě méi shuō chū gè suǒ yǐ rán.He hemmed and hawed for a long time but didn't give a clear answer.
- 支吾，！Bié zhī wú le, kuài shuō shíhuà!Stop hedging, tell the truth!
- ，支吾。Miàn duì zhì wèn, tā zhī wú zhe bù kěn huí dá.Facing the questioning, he hedged and refused to answer.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.