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Expressing 'about to' with 欲 (yù)
Structure
摇摇 + 欲 + Verb
Explanation
欲 (yù) is a literary verb meaning "to be about to" or "to be on the verge of." It appears most often in classical or formal expressions, conveying that something is imminent. A well-known example is the four-character idiom 摇摇欲坠, meaning "tottering and about to collapse."
Examples
大楼摇摇欲坠，消防员赶紧疏散了居民。
Dàlóu yáoyáo yù zhuì, xiāofángyuán gǎnjǐn shūsàn le jūmín.
The building was on the verge of collapse, and the firefighters quickly evacuated the residents.
山上的巨石摇摇欲坠，看起来非常危险。
Shān shàng de jùshí yáoyáo yù zhuì, kàn qǐlái fēicháng wēixiǎn.
The huge boulder on the mountain was teetering on the edge, looking extremely dangerous.
那座老桥已经摇摇欲坠，早就不能走了。
Nà zuò lǎo qiáo yǐjīng yáoyáo yù zhuì, zǎo jiù bù néng zǒu le.
That old bridge is already on the verge of collapse and has long been impassable.