1
totter + adv./prep.
totter 是不及物动词，方向或地点需用介词或副词引出。
The toddler tottered across the room.
那个学步的孩子摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。
蹒跚；动摇
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
蹒跚；动摇
to move in an unsteady way, as if about to fall
The toddler tottered across the room.
那个学步的孩子摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。
行走、移动或站立时不稳或摇晃,有跌倒之虞。
To walk, move or stand unsteadily or falteringly; threatening to fall.
处于崩溃边缘。
To be on the brink of collapse.
totter
Base
原形
totters
3rd person
第三人称单数
tottering
-ing
现在分词
tottered
Past
过去式
tottered
Past participle
过去分词
The old man totters along the street.
那位老人沿街蹒跚而行。
She tottered and fell on the icy path.
她在结冰的小路上踉跄了一下，摔倒了。
The baby is tottering toward her mother.
宝宝正摇摇晃晃地走向妈妈。
totter 指因虚弱或不稳而摇摇晃晃地走，也可用于比喻动摇。
After spinning around too quickly, she tottered and grabbed the edge of the table.
转圈转得太快后，她踉跄了一下，抓住桌子边缘。
The little boy is tottering across the garden with his new walking shoes.
小男孩穿着新学步鞋，摇摇晃晃地穿过花园。
Despite his injury, he tottered toward the finish line.
尽管受了伤，他还是摇摇晃晃地走向终点线。
totter 是不及物动词，方向或地点需用介词或副词引出。
The toddler tottered across the room.
那个学步的孩子摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。
用于比喻，表示局势或机构极不稳定，即将失败或崩溃。
The negotiations are tottering on the brink of collapse.
谈判正摇摇欲坠，濒临破裂。
强调费力地站起来，通常因为虚弱或受伤。
He tottered to his feet and waved for help.
他摇摇晃晃地站起来，挥手求救。
Not this
The bad news tottered his confidence.
Use this
The bad news made his confidence totter.
totter 是不及物动词，不能直接接宾语；表示“使……动摇”时，应用 make/cause + 宾语 + 动词原形，或把受动摇者作主语。
Not this
After the long walk, the child was totter and fell.
Use this
After the long walk, the child was tottering and fell.
be 动词后不能直接跟动词原形，应接现在分词构成进行时，以表示“蹒跚”的持续状态。
Not this
The country is tottering at the brink of war.
Use this
The country is tottering on the brink of war.
totter 与 the brink of 搭配时介词用 on（on the brink of），表示“濒临”，而不用 at。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
摇摇晃晃地站起来
She tottered to her feet and tried to smile.
她摇摇晃晃地站起来，努力露出微笑。
沿街蹒跚而行
The old man tottered along the street with a walking stick.
老人拄着拐杖沿街蹒跚而行。
在崩溃边缘摇摇欲坠
The government tottered on the brink of collapse.
政府摇摇欲坠，濒临崩溃。
在……的重压下摇摇欲坠
The injured climber tottered under the weight of his backpack.
受伤的登山者被背包压得步履蹒跚。
蹒跚走动
The toddler tottered around the kitchen.
幼儿在厨房里蹒跚走动。
在…边缘摇摇欲坠
The peace talks are tottering on the brink of failure.
和平谈判正濒临失败的边缘。
摇摇晃晃地站起来
After a long illness, he tottered to his feet.
久病之后，他摇摇晃晃地站了起来。
在…重压下步履维艰
Many small businesses are tottering under the weight of rising costs.
许多小企业正因成本不断上涨而步履维艰。
Use totter naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想小娃娃（tot）刚学步，摇摇摆摆、蹒跚前行。
语域：neutral 常见场景：描述人走路不稳、比喻政权、公司等摇摇欲坠 totter 通常用于书面或文学性叙述，形容人或事物不稳、即将倒下；日常口语中较少用，较口语的说法可用 stagger 或 wobble。
在英式发音中，potter、hotter、trotter、blotter、squatter、jotter 都以 /ɒtə/ 结尾，与 totter 押韵。注意拼写相似的 tutor /ˈtjuːtə/ 和 tooter /ˈtuːtə/ 读音不同；美式英语中 totter 常读作 /ˈtɑːtər/。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.