折騰

折騰 (colloquial)

1. to toss about; to be restless
2. to do (something) over and over again
3. to torment; to cause mental suffering
4. to disturb; to cause trouble

   • 有些吃飽了沒事幹的外國人，對我們的事情指手劃腳。中國一不輸出革命，二不輸出飢餓和貧困，三不去折騰你們，還有什麼好說的？ [MSC, trad.]
     有些吃饱了没事干的外国人，对我们的事情指手划脚。中国一不输出革命，二不输出饥饿和贫困，三不去折腾你们，还有什么好说的？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2009, Xi Jinping's speech in Mexico (Translation extracted from Reuters)

     Yǒuxiē chībǎo le méi shì gàn de wàiguórén, duì wǒmen de shìqíng zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo. Zhōngguó yī bù shūchū gémìng, èr bù shūchū jī'è hé pínkùn, sān bù qù zhéténg nǐmen, háiyǒu shénme hǎo shuō de?

     Some foreigners with full bellies and nothing better to do engage in finger-pointing at us. First, China does not export revolution; second, it does not export famine and poverty; and third, it does not mess around with you. So what else is there to say?

5. to waste; to squander

   • 如果你是小有資產，若不注意節約，輕則盈利被用掉，無法擴大經營，重則，數年下來，連老本都會折騰光。 [MSC, trad.]
     如果你是小有资产，若不注意节约，轻则盈利被用掉，无法扩大经营，重则，数年下来，连老本都会折腾光。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1995, 周建设, 张伟超, 周中朝, 张亚斌, 李湘黔, and 陈先华, 《商务通书》, page 734

     Rúguǒ nǐ shì xiǎo yǒu zīchǎn, ruò bù zhùyì jiéyuē, qīng zé yínglì bèi yòngdiào, wúfǎ kuòdà jīngyíng, zhòng zé, shù nián xiàlái, lián lǎoběn dōu huì zhēteng guāng.

     If you have a small fortune, if you are not cautious and frugal, your profit may be used up and you will not be able to expand your business, but in the worse case, after many years, even your assets will be completely squandered.

   • 這麼折騰銀行的錢，老百姓就是存再多的儲蓄，也得被搗騰個底兒光。 [MSC, trad.]
     这么折腾银行的钱，老百姓就是存再多的储蓄，也得被捣腾个底儿光。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1998, 方力平, 中国经济写实：买方市场的乐与愁, in 《当代中国研究》 , issue 1

     Zhème zhēteng yínháng de qián, lǎobǎixìng jiù shì cún zài duō de chǔxù, yě děi bèi dǎoteng ge dǐr guāng.

     In squandering the bank's money like this, as much as the common people save up, it would all have to be used up to the bottom.

   • 我忍著疼痛揪住他的衣服不放，我想等他折騰完身上的力氣後他會乖乖跟我去派出所。 [MSC, trad.]
     我忍着疼痛揪住他的衣服不放，我想等他折腾完身上的力气后他会乖乖跟我去派出所。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2006, 李约热, 巡逻记, in 《广西文学》 , issues 5–6, page 41

     Wǒ rěnzhe téngtòng jiū zhù tā de yīfu bù fàng, wǒ xiǎng děng tā zhēteng wán shēnshang de lìqi hòu tā huì guāiguāi gēn wǒ qù pàichūsuǒ.

     Enduring the pain, I grasped on to his shirt without letting go. I thought that after he wastes all his energy, he will comply and go to the police station with me.

• (to torment):

• (to waste):