bàn半halfxìn信believebàn半halfyí疑doubt
To be half-believing, half-doubting; dubious.
Literal meaning
half (半) — believe (信) — half (半) — doubt (疑)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a state of uncertainty.
Examples
wǒ duì tā de jiěshì bànxìn-bànyí.我对他的解释半信半疑。
I'm half-believing, half-doubting his explanation.
tā bànxìn-bànyí de kànzhe tā.她半信半疑地看着他。
She looked at him with a mixture of belief and doubt.
Usage & nuances
Implies a lack of complete trust or certainty.
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