Chinese word

犹豫

Pronunciation

Pinyinyóu yù

Meaning

  • verbhesitate

Example

不要再犹豫了，直接说吧。bú yào zài yóu yù le zhí jiē shuō ba

Don't hesitate anymore; just say it.

Illustration for 犹豫 (hesitate)

More examples

他听完建议后犹豫了一下，马上表示同意。tā tīng wán jiàn yì hòu yóu yù le yí xià mǎ shàng biǎo shì tóng yì

After hearing the advice, he hesitated for a moment, then immediately agreed.

Core concept

The mind pauses between possible actions because no option feels certain enough to begin.

Common phrases

  • 对未来犹豫duì wèi lái yóu yù

    hesitate about the future

  • 犹豫了一下yóu yù le yí xià

    hesitate for a moment

  • 毫不犹豫háo bù yóu yù

    without hesitation

Similar words

迟疑chí yí: Pausing briefly because of uncertainty before starting to speak or act.
犹豫不决yóu yù bù jué: Wavering repeatedly without reaching a decision or conclusion.
踌躇chóu chú: Pausing in uncertainty and being unable to decide whether to move forward.
观望guān wàng: Waiting to see how a situation develops before deciding whether to act.

Definition in Chinese

在面对取舍或需要行动的情形时，由于担心、顾虑或缺乏把握而表现出的迟疑或暂缓行为。zài miàn duì qú shě huò xū yào xíng dòng de qíng xíng shí yóu yú dān xīn gù lǜ huò quē fá bǎ wò ér biǎo xiàn chū de chí yí huò zàn huǎn xíng wèi

Word origin

Traditional etymology connects 犹 (yóu, "a monkey-like animal") + 豫 (yù, "an elephant") with cautious, unsettled behavior before the word came to describe indecision.

Usage tips

  • 犹豫了一下 (yóuyù le yíxià, "hesitated briefly") can mark a small pause before speaking or acting, so the word need not imply a long delay.

Other meanings

  • hesitationnoun
  • be undecidedverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word