东倒西歪
dōng dǎo xī wāi
staggering; lurching; leaning every which way
Character by character
东dōng
east
east
倒dǎo
fall
fall
西xī
west
west
歪wāi
tilt
tilt
Example
他喝醉了，走起路来东倒西歪的。
He was drunk and lurched from side to side as he walked.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Of people who stagger (drunk, exhausted, sleepy) and of things knocked askew: 被台风刮得东倒西歪的树, 东倒西歪地睡了一地. Often followed by 的 or 地.
Learn this in Lesson 73 · HSK 6: 机器人与低空经济 (Robots, drones and the low-altitude economy)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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