yáo摇shakeyáo摇shakeyù欲about tozhuì坠fall
Tottering; on the verge of collapse.
Literal meaning
shake (摇) — shake (摇) — about to (欲) — fall (坠)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing something unstable and close to falling.
Examples
zhè kē lǎo shù yáo yáo yù zhuì, suíshí kěnéng dǎo xià.这棵老树摇摇欲坠，随时可能倒下。
This old tree is tottering and could fall at any moment.
zhè这jiā家gōng公sī司yáo摇yáo摇yù欲zhuì坠，miàn面lín临pò破chǎn产de的wēi危xiǎn险。
This company is on the verge of collapse and faces the danger of bankruptcy.
Usage & nuances
Often used to describe physical structures or organizations in a precarious state.
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