打边鼓 dǎbiāngǔ to support from the sidelines Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 打 dǎ verb to hit to strike; to knock; to beat; to break边鼓 邊鼓 biāngǔ side hits (bound form) drumbeats on the edge of a drumhead, which produce a weaker sound; figuratively refers to things that play a supporting or auxiliary role