Chinese word

迟疑

Pronunciation

Pinyinchí yí

Meaning

  • verbhesitate

Example

他在门口迟疑了几秒钟才进来。tā zài mén kǒu chí yí le jí miǎo zhōng cái jìn lái

He hesitated in the doorway for a few seconds before entering.

Illustration for 迟疑 (hesitate)

More examples

她听到对方的建议后，毫不迟疑地接受了。tā tīng dào duì fāng de jiàn yì hòu háo bù chí yí dì jiē shòu le

After hearing the other person's suggestion, she accepted it without hesitation.

Core concept

A person reaches the point of action, but doubt briefly holds that action back.

Common phrases

  • 迟疑不决chí yí bù jué

    hesitate without deciding

  • 迟疑了一下chí yí le yí xià

    hesitate briefly

  • 毫不迟疑háo bù chí yí

    without hesitation

Similar words

犹豫yóu yù: Wavering over a choice and taking time to decide.
观望guān wàng: Holding back while watching how a situation develops.
踌躇chóu chú: Lingering in indecision and failing to take action.

Definition in Chinese

在是否采取行动时表现出短暂的停顿或犹豫，因为内心不确定而暂缓动作。zài shì fǒu cái qǔ xíng dòng shí biǎo xiàn chū duǎn zàn de tíng dùn huò yóu yù yīn wèi nèi xīn bú què dìng ér zàn huǎn dòng zuò

Word origin

The compound 迟疑 (chíyí, "hesitate") combines 迟 (chí, "slow or delayed") with 疑 (yí, "doubt"), linking uncertainty with delayed action.

Usage tips

  • Time expressions such as "for a few seconds" pair naturally with this word because it often marks a temporary pause rather than a settled refusal.

Other meanings

  • hesitationnoun

Opposites

  • 决定jué dìngdecideverb
  • 下定决心xià dìng jué xīnmake up one's mindverb

Related words

  • 迟疑不决chí yí bù juéhesitate without decidingidiom

Word lists with this word