verb HSK 5
to dawdle · to waste time · to procrastinate · to move slowly
Meaning
磨蹭 describes the action of deliberately or habitually moving slowly, delaying, or wasting time when doing something. It often carries a slightly negative or impatient tone, suggesting someone is being inefficient or unnecessarily slow in their actions or movements.
Usage
Commonly used by parents scolding children who are moving too slowly, or to describe someone who procrastinates or lacks efficiency. The tone is informal and often carries mild criticism or impatience. Frequently appears in imperative constructions like 别磨蹭了 (stop dawdling).
Examples
- 01你别磨蹭了，我们要迟到了！, !Stop dawdling, we're going to be late!
- 02他每天早上起床都要磨蹭很长时间。.Every morning he dawdles for a long time getting out of bed.
Characters
Common collocations
- 别磨蹭了stop dawdling
- 磨磨蹭蹭dawdling along
- 磨蹭半天dawdle for ages
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 磨 (to grind/rub) and 蹭 (to rub against) creates an image of something moving slowly through friction, metaphorically representing slow, dragging actions.