Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 一瘸一拐 | yīquéyīguǎi | |
| 一步一瘸 | yībùyīqué | |
| 跛行 | bǒxíng | literary |
| 蹣跚 / 蹒跚 | pánshān |
The various terms for 'limp' are used to describe walking with a lameness or uneven gait. While some forms specifically describe physical lameness, others describe a general unsteady or staggering movement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 一瘸一拐 uses a reduplicated structure where 一瘸 means 'one limp' and 一拐 means 'one hobble', joined together to describe a continuous, uneven gait.
Which one should you use?
Most forms for 'limp' imply a physical injury or lameness. However, 蹒跚 is different. It can also describe walking unsteadily due to factors like exhaustion, old age or intoxication, rather than just physical impairment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
一瘸一拐 is the colloquial way to describe limping. For more formal or clinical contexts, you should use 跛行 to describe a limp or a lame gait. The term 跛足 is also a formal way to specifically convey the idea of a limp in the foot.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern China, the Cantonese variation 跛腳 is used to mean 'limp'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 一瘸一拐 as an adverb to describe how someone is walking (for example, 'He walked limply'), add the particle 地 after it: 一瘸一拐地.
How do you pronounce it?
yīquéyīguǎi
Did you know?
- The word 跛 used in 跛行 can be used metaphorically in Chinese to describe a 'lame' or flawed argument that lacks a strong logical foundation.
- While 一瘸一拐 describes a limp, the word 瘸 is also used in Chinese slang to describe something that is unevenly matched or lacking a pair.
- While the word 蹒跚 describes a staggering gait, it is frequently used in modern Chinese literature to personify abstract concepts like 'the progress of time' or 'the flow of history' as if they were walking unsteadily.
Examples in context
- 您最近是否感到足麻或跛行？ (Nín zuìjìn shìfǒu gǎndào zú má huò bǒ xíng?)Have you been experiencing foot numbness or walking with a limp recently?
- 他受伤后走路一瘸一拐的。Tā shòushāng hòu zǒulù yīquéguāiguā de.He walks with a limp after being injured.
- 那个小孩一瘸一拐地走过来。Nàge xiǎohái yīquéguāiguā de zǒu guòlái.That child limped over.
- 你看他走起路来一瘸一拐的。Nǐ kàn tā zǒu qǐ lù lái yīquéguāiguā de.Look at him, he is limping.
Example conversation
Junjie is walking toward Yuting with a hurt foot.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你怎么一瘸一拐的？Jùnjié, nǐ zěnme yīquéyīguǎi de?Junjie, why are you limping?
- 俊杰 Junjie我刚才不小心扭到了脚。Wǒ gāngcái bù xiǎoxīn niǔ dào le jiǎo.I accidentally twisted my ankle just now.
- 雨婷 Yuting太糟糕了，快坐下来休息吧。Tài zāogāo le, kuài zuò xiàlái xiūxi ba.That's terrible, sit down and rest quickly.
- 俊杰 Junjie谢谢，我想去诊所看看。Xièxie, wǒ xiǎng qù zhěnsuǒ kànkan.Thanks, I think I want to go to the clinic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “limp” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
