jiu4 jiu4 juk6 zeoi6搖搖欲墜摇摇欲坠

Jyutpingjiu4 jiu4 juk6 zeoi6

Yaleyìuh yìuh yuhk jeuih

形容詞Uncommon

Definition

Shaking and tottering, or on the verge of collapse.

neutraldescriptionsplaces

How it's used

This idiom is primarily used to describe physical structures or objects that appear unstable and ready to fall at any moment. While it can be used metaphorically to describe a failing business or a shaky relationship, it is most commonly applied to literal, tangible items like old furniture, loose signs, or dilapidated buildings.

Examples

go3個gaa3架jiu4搖jiu4搖juk6欲zeoi6墜，nei5你cin1千kei4祈m4唔hou2好haang4行maai4埋heoi3去aa4呀。

The shelf is on the verge of collapsing, you better not go near it.

le1呢gaan1間gau6舊lau4樓jiu4搖jiu4搖juk6欲zeoi6墜，zing3政fu2府hou2好faai3快wui2會cing1清caak3拆。

This old building is tottering and about to collapse, the government will demolish it soon.

Common phrases

jiu4搖jiu4搖juk6欲zeoi6墜ge3嘅gin3建zuk1築

a crumbling building

jiu4搖jiu4搖juk6欲zeoi6墜ge3嘅ging1經zai3濟

a shaky economy

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a verb phrase, but it functions as an adjective. You should use it with 係 or 變得 to describe the state of an object, rather than using it as an action.