Navigation
Grammar Levels
Resources
Using 结结巴巴 (jiējiēbābā) to express 'stammering'
Structure
Subject + 结结巴巴 + 地 + Verb / Subject + 说得 + 结结巴巴
Explanation
The adjective 结结巴巴 (jiējiēbābā) describes speech that is stammering or halting, where someone struggles to get words out smoothly. It is the reduplicated form of 结巴, which intensifies the description. It is typically used as an adverb before a verb of speaking or as a predicate to describe someone's manner of speech.
Examples
他结结巴巴地说了半天，也没说清楚。
tā jiējiē bābā de shuō le bàntiān, yě méi shuō qīngchǔ.
He stammered for a long time but still couldn't explain clearly.
面对老板的提问，她紧张得结结巴巴的。
miànduì lǎobǎn de tíwèn, tā jǐnzhāng de jiējiē bābā de.
Facing the boss's question, she was so nervous that she stammered.
他结结巴巴地解释迟到的原因。
tā jiējiē bābā de jiěshì chídào de yuányīn.
He stammered as he explained the reason for being late.