折腾 zhēteng to toss from side to side (e.g. sleeplessly)
to toss from side to side (e.g. sleeplessly); to repeat something over and over again; to torment somebody; to play crazy; to squander (time, money)
How to remember 折腾: 折 break + 腾 to fly = to toss from side to side (e.g. sleeplessly).
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How it is used
- Very colloquial: to mess about, do something over and over wearingly - 别瞎折腾 (bié xiā zhēteng) stop fooling around, 来回折腾 back-and-forth hassle.
- Reading trap: here 折 is zhē. Also 'toss and turn' (一夜没睡，折腾到天亮) and 'wear sb out'.