Chinese word

犹豫不决

Pronunciation

Pinyinyóu yù bù jué

Meaning

  • adjectiveindecisive

Example

他对选择犹豫不决，一直没决定。tā duì xuǎn zé yóu yù bù jué yì zhí méi jué dìng

He is indecisive about what to choose and still hasn't decided.

Illustration for 犹豫不决 (indecisive)

More examples

面试中她显得犹豫不决，回答不够果断。miàn shì zhōng tā xiǎn de yóu yù bù jué huí dá bú gòu guǒ duàn

During the interview, she seemed indecisive, and her answer was not decisive enough.

Core concept

A mind that keeps wavering among choices instead of settling on one.

Common phrases

  • 对选择犹豫不决duì xuǎn zé yóu yù bù jué

    indecisive about what to choose

  • 显得犹豫不决xiǎn de yóu yù bù jué

    seem indecisive

  • 犹豫不决的态度yóu yù bù jué de tài dù

    an indecisive attitude

Similar words

犹豫yóu yù: Temporarily hesitating and unable to decide right away.
优柔寡断yōu róu guǎ duàn: Showing weak decisiveness and an inability to make clear choices.
举棋不定jǔ qí bú dìng: Unsure what to do and unable to settle on a course of action.
踌躇不前chóu chú bù qián: Unable to move forward because of fear or uncertainty.

Definition in Chinese

形容在多种选项或情况下反复迟疑，拿不定主意，不能做出决定。xíng róng zài duō zhǒng xuǎn xiàng huò qíng kuàng xià fǎn fù chí yí ná bú dìng zhǔ yì bù néng zuò chū jué dìng

Word origin

犹豫不决 (yóuyùbùjué, "unable to decide") combines 犹豫 (yóuyù, "waver") with 不决 (bùjué, "not settle"), so continued hesitation is presented as failure to reach a decision.

Usage tips

  • A brief pause before answering is not enough for this adjective; it usually presents someone as still unable to choose after considering the options.

Other meanings

  • hesitateverb
  • be unsureverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word