# 期期艾艾

qī qī ài ài

Stammer or speak haltingly

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Repeated hesitant syllables

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe hesitant, interrupted speech.

Avoid mocking speech disorders.

## Understanding the expression

The repeated sounds imitate words that are difficult to get out smoothly. The expression can describe nervous hesitation, embarrassment, or a halting delivery in a particular situation. It says how speech sounds rather than how intelligent or honest the speaker is. Context should explain what makes the moment difficult. Because a stammer can also be a persistent speech condition, using the phrase to ridicule someone is unkind.

## Examples

他紧张得期期艾艾。

### Traditional Chinese

他緊張得期期艾艾。

tā jǐn zhāng dé qī qī ài ài 。

He stammered with nervousness.

她期期艾艾地解释迟到原因。

### Traditional Chinese

她期期艾艾地解釋遲到原因。

tā qī qī ài ài dì jiě shì chí dào yuán yīn 。

She haltingly explained why she was late.

新同事发言时有些期期艾艾。

### Traditional Chinese

新同事發言時有些期期艾艾。

xīn tóng shì fā yán shí yǒu xiē qī qī ài ài 。

The new colleague spoke somewhat hesitantly.

他一开始期期艾艾，后来渐渐流畅。

### Traditional Chinese

他一開始期期艾艾，後來漸漸流暢。

tā yì kāi shǐ qī qī ài ài ， hòu lái jiàn jiàn liú chàng 。

He initially stammered, then gradually spoke more fluently.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%9C%9F%E6%9C%9F%E8%89%BE%E8%89%BE)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=724&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [七手八脚 qī shǒu bā jiǎo Have several people helping in a scramble ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qi-shou-ba-jiao)

- [七嘴八舌 qī zuǐ bā shé Have everyone talking at once ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qi-zui-ba-she)

- [前倨后恭 qián jù hòu gōng Become deferential after first being arrogant ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-ju-hou-gong)

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