吞吞吐吐

tūntūntǔtǔ

HSK 7

吞吞吐吐 — tūntūntǔtǔ

1. to hum and haw; to hesitate or be evasive when speaking

   他回答问题时总是吞吞吐吐，显得很犹豫。 tā huídá wèntí shí zǒngshì tūntūntǔtǔ xiǎnde hěn yóuyù — When he answers questions he always hums and haws, seeming very hesitant.

2. to mumble as if hiding something; to speak in a halting, unclear way

   他在电话里吞吞吐吐，听起来像是在隐瞒什么。 tā zài diànhuà lǐ tūntūntǔtǔ tīng qǐlái xiàngshì zài yǐnmán shénme — He mumbled on the phone, sounding like he was hiding something.

3. to speak, stop, and then start again; to hold something back

   面对记者的追问，他吞吞吐吐，不肯把事情说清楚。 miànduì jìzhě de zhuīwèn tā tūntūntǔtǔ bùkěn bǎ shìqíng shuō qīngchǔ — Faced with reporters' questions, he hemmed and hawed and refused to make things clear.