趑 (zī) - To walk with difficulty & to hesitate

趑Tone 1

zī ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

志

趑 · zī

To walk with difficulty;

to hesitate;

to falter in movement.

To walk with difficultyto hesitateto falter in movement.

Usage highlights

Hesitant walkingFaltering stepsHesitate to advanceWalk with difficultyTimid and hesitant

Synonyms

  • 踌躇— hesitate, waver
  • 犹豫— hesitate, be indecisive
  • 徘徊— pace back and forth, hesitate

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He walked hesitantly (趑趄而行).
  • She was hesitant to move forward (趑趄不前).
  • The old man faltered in his steps (步履趑趄).

Collocations

  • Hesitant walking(趑趄)
  • Faltering steps(趑趄步履)
  • Hesitate to advance(趑趄不前)
  • Walk with difficulty(趑趄而行)
  • Timid and hesitant(趑趄趔趄)

Idioms

  • Hesitant and unable to advance(趑趄不前)
  • Walking unsteadily(趑趄趔趄)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character is rarely used in modern Chinese and appears mainly in classical literature.
  • It often describes physical hesitation that metaphorically represents psychological indecision.
  • The character's structure suggests movement (走) combined with secondary (次), implying secondary or hesitant movement.

FAQ