totter
/ˈtɒtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɑtɚ] /ˈtɑːtər/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɑtɚ] /ˈtä-tər How to pronounce totter (audio)/ (ame, mw)
totter — 動詞
- totterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tottershe / she / it
- totteredpast simple
- tottering-ing form
1. to walk in a weak or unsteady way, moving your body from side to side as if you
蹣跚；踉蹌
走路不穩，搖搖晃晃
to walk in a weak or unsteady way, moving your body from side to side as if you might fall over — for example, a very old person making their way slowly across a room, or someone who is injured or ill trying to stand up and move.
After the long surgery, Mrs. Chen tottered slowly down the hospital hallway holding onto the rail.
大手術後，陳太太扶著扶手沿醫院走廊慢慢蹣跚前行。
totter + adverb phrase describing manner and location
Daichi tottered across the deck of the fishing boat as a large wave hit the side.
Daichi 在漁船甲板上踉蹌了幾步，一道大浪打上了船舷。
A small child in oversized boots tottered after her mother through the muddy garden.
一個穿著過大靴子的小小孩，跟在媽媽身後搖搖晃晃地穿過泥濘的花園。
Shirin took two tottering steps forward and then gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself.
Shirin 踉蹌地向前走了兩步，然後抓住桌緣穩住自己。
- stride
long confident steps; opposite of weak uncertain movement
文法句型
totter + adverb/preposition phrase
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person (elderly, ill, injured, drunk, or very young) or occasionally an inanimate object with legs or a narrow base. Frequently appears with a direction phrase (totter across / down / towards / along).
常見錯誤
2. to rock or swing unsteadily, threatening to tip over — typically said of tall or
搖晃
物體不穩地左右搖動
to rock or swing unsteadily, threatening to tip over — typically said of tall or narrow objects such as stacks, pieces of furniture, towers, or other things that have lost their balance.
The stack of plates on the counter tottered dangerously when the truck drove past.
卡車經過時，櫃檯上那疊盤子危險地搖晃了一下。
inanimate subject + adverb of manner
For a second the tall lamp tottered and then fell onto the carpet with a soft thud.
那盞高腳燈搖晃了一秒鐘，然後輕軟一聲掉在地毯上。
During the earthquake, every shelf in the library tottered and books came crashing down.
地震期間，圖書館裡每個書架都在搖晃，書本紛紛掉落下來。
The tower of cardboard boxes tottered every time someone opened the front door.
每次有人打開前門，那堆紙箱就會搖搖欲墜。
Rafael watched the pile of firewood totter and then carefully rearranged the logs.
Rafael 看著那堆木柴搖晃，然後小心地重新擺放整齊。
The old wooden chair tottered for a moment before it finally broke under his weight.
那把舊木椅搖晃了幾下，最後終於承受不住他的重量而垮掉。
- stand firm
to remain steady and not shake
文法句型
totter + (preposition phrase)
用法筆記
Inanimate objects are the most common subject for this sense. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on sideways shaking or instability, not on walking movement. The thing may not move from its place at all.
3. to become very weak and close to failing or ending — used of organisations such
岌岌可危
機構、政權等岌岌可危
to become very weak and close to failing or ending — used of organisations such as companies, banks, governments, or political systems that are losing power, money, or public support and may soon collapse or be unable to continue.
The old bank tottered on the edge of bankruptcy before the government stepped in to help.
那家老銀行在破產邊緣搖搖欲墜，後來政府介入才得以挽救。
totter on the edge of + [abstract noun]
As more members left the party, the coalition government began to totter and finally fell apart.
隨著更多黨員出走，這個聯合政府開始搖搖欲墜，最終解體。
The construction company tottered through three difficult years before it was bought by a larger firm.
這家建築公司岌岌可危地撐了三年，最後被一家更大的公司收購。
Without new investors, the tech startup was tottering and had to let half its staff go.
由於沒有新的投資者，這家新創科技公司岌岌可危，被迫裁掉了一半員工。
Analysts warned that the tottering economy could sink into a deep recession by the end of the year.
分析師警告，搖搖欲墜的經濟可能在年底前陷入嚴重衰退。
- thrive
to grow and succeed; the opposite of tottering towards failure
文法句型
totter + (preposition: on the verge/edge of)
用法筆記
Frequently in financial or political journalism. Passive is rare; the intransitive active voice (the company tottered) is standard. Often modified with phrases like on the brink of, on the verge of, or through [a period].
常見錯誤
totter — 名詞
1. a weak, unsteady way of walking or moving, during which your body moves from sid
蹣跚步
不穩的走路方式
a weak, unsteady way of walking or moving, during which your body moves from side to side and you seem about to fall.
The old man crossed the street with a cautious totter, stopping twice to catch his breath.
那位老先生小心翼翼地蹣跚過街，中途停了兩次喘口氣。
with a + adjective + totter
After twelve hours on her feet, Jenna's walk had turned into a tired totter across the warehouse floor.
站了十二個小時之後，Jenna 走路的樣子已經變成疲憊地踉蹌穿越倉庫。
The toddler's first attempts at walking were more of a happy totter than a true stride.
那個學步幼兒第一次嘗試走路與其說是真正的步伐，不如說是愉快的蹣跚。
Felix managed only a few steps before his totter became so bad that he had to sit down again.
Felix 只勉強走了幾步，他的腳步就踉蹌到不得不再坐下來。
- stride
a long, confident step
文法句型
a totter
with a totter
用法筆記
Usually countable in the singular (a totter). Less common than the verb form. Often found with an adjective (slight totter, tired totter, cautious totter).