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tabingi

tabingî with stress marks

crooked; unbalanced; askew

adjective ta-bi-NGÎ Native origin Less Common

Usage Note

Tabingi describes something that is not straight, level, or properly aligned — a tilted picture frame, a lopsided smile, a building wall that leans. It can be used literally for objects that are physically askew, and figuratively for arguments or reasoning that is logically off-balance. The word has a slightly comic ring when applied to people or facial expressions.

Examples

Beginner

" Tabingi ang mesa. "

Natural Translation

The table is crooked.

Literal Translation

Crooked the table.

Intermediate

" Tabingi ang larawan sa pader. "

Natural Translation

The picture on the wall is crooked.

Literal Translation

Crooked the picture on wall.

Advanced

" Kahit ilang beses ko nang itinuwid ang kuwadro, tabingi pa rin ito kapag tinitingnan ko mula sa malayo. "

Natural Translation

No matter how many times I've straightened the frame, it still looks crooked when I look at it from afar.

Literal Translation

Even how-many times I already straightened the frame, crooked still it when looked-at by-me from afar.

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