徘徊

A reduplicative, ideophonic compound in Old Chinese.

Compare 婓婓 (OC *pʰɯl pʰɯl, “coming and going”), 回回 (OC *ɡuːl ɡuːl, “revolving; turning”).

徘徊

1. to pace back and forth; to walk to and fro; to wander

   • 徐徘徊於山阿兮，飄風來之洶洶。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     徐徘徊于山阿兮，飘风来之汹汹。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE

     Xú páihuái yú shān'ē xī, piāofēng lái zhī xiōngxiōng.

     Threading my way round the curves of the mountains,
     Till the whirlwind came with blusterous roaring.

   • 音樂博衍無終極兮，焉及逝以徘徊。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     音乐博衍无终极兮，焉及逝以徘徊。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE

     Yīnyuè bóyǎn wú zhōngjí xī, yān jí shì yǐ páihuái.

     The music swelled and swelled into infinity,
     After that I left them and resumed my wandering.

   • 旦徘徊於長阪兮，夕仿偟而獨宿。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     旦徘徊于长阪兮，夕仿偟而独宿。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE

     Dàn páihuái yú chángbǎn xī, xī pánghuáng ér dúsù.

     In the morning I wander on the long hill's bluff;
     In the evening I fearfully go to my lone rest.

2. (figurative) to linger; to hover around; to be reluctant to leave

   • 徐風至而徘徊兮，疾風過之湯湯。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     徐风至而徘徊兮，疾风过之汤汤。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE

     Xúfēng zhì ér páihuái xī, jífēng guò zhī tāngtāng.

     The soft wind blew in uncertain eddies;
     The wild wind passed with a rushing blast.

3. (figurative) to hesitate; to dither; to waver
4. (figurative) to oscillate; to fluctuate; to vary (between two values)

• (to pace back and forth):

• (to hesitate):

• (Tokyo) はいかい (Heiban – )^[1]
• IPA^(key):

徘(はい)徊(かい) • (haikai) 

1. prowling

徘(はい)徊(かい)する • (haikai suru) suru (stem 徘(はい)徊(かい)し (haikai shi), past 徘(はい)徊(かい)した (haikai shita))

1. to prowl, to wander, to loiter

徘徊 • (baehoe) (hangeul 배회)

1. hanja form^? of 배회 (“prowling; loitering”)

徘徊

1. chữ Hán form of bồi hồi (“uneasy; restless; ill at ease; anxious”).