活蹦乱跳
huó bèng luàn tiào
alive and kicking; lively, full of beans
Character by character
活huó
alive
alive
蹦bèng
leap
leap
乱luàn
wildly
wildly
跳tiào
jump
jump
Example
前两天孩子还发着烧，今天又活蹦乱跳的了。
Two days ago the child had a fever, and today he is bouncing about again.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
At the market, 活蹦乱跳的鱼虾 is proof the fish and shrimp are fresh. Of children and pets it means healthy and lively, often after an illness. Usually with 的 as a predicate or attribute.
Learn this in Lesson 135 · HSK 7–9: 菜市场里 (At the wet market)
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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