Definition
踉跄 is a literary verb meaning 'to stagger' or 'to stumble', describing unsteady, faltering steps — often from exhaustion, injury, or drunkenness. It's more vivid and formal than 跌跌撞撞, and typically appears in written or narrative Chinese (fiction, news reports) rather than casual speech. You'll see it in patterns like 踉跄着走 ('to walk staggering') or 踉跄了几步 ('staggered a few steps').
v.
to staggerto stumble (with unsteady steps)
Examples
- ，踉跄。Tā hē zuì le, liàng qiàng zhe zǒu huí jiā.He got drunk and staggered home.
- ，踉跄。Lǎorén bèi shítou bàn le yíxià, liàng qiàng le jǐ bù cái zhàn wěn.The old man tripped on a stone and staggered a few steps before steadying himself.
- 踉跄，。Tā cóng zhànchǎng shàng liàng qiàng zhe pǎo chūlái, húnshēn shì shāng.He staggered out of the battlefield, covered in wounds.
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