跎 (tuó) - To waste time & to delay

跎Tone 2

tuó ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

跎 · tuó

To waste time;

to delay;

to idle away.

Primarily used in the compound 蹉跎 (cuōtuó).

To waste timeto delayto idle away. Primarily used in the compound

Usage highlights

Waste timeWaste one's yearsIdle away the yearsWaste time and miss opportunitiesRegret for wasted timeWaste time and accomplish nothing

Synonyms

  • 蹉— To waste time; to delay (usually used together with 跎)
  • 耽— To delay; to indulge in
  • 误— To miss; to delay; to err

Antonyms

  • 惜— To cherish; to treasure (time)
  • 抓紧— To grasp tightly; to make the most of (time)
  • 把握— To seize; to grasp (opportunities)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Don't waste your youth (蹉跎岁月).
  • He idled away his years (蹉跎了岁月).
  • Regret for wasted time (蹉跎之悔).

Collocations

  • Waste time(蹉跎)
  • Waste one's years(蹉跎岁月)
  • Idle away the years(蹉跎年华)
  • Waste time and miss opportunities(蹉跎失时)
  • Regret for wasted time(蹉跎之悔)
  • Waste time and accomplish nothing(蹉跎无功)

Idioms

  • To waste one's time(蹉跎岁月)
  • To fritter away one's life(蹉跎一生)
  • To let time slip by without accomplishing anything(蹉跎自误)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 跎 is almost exclusively used in the compound 蹉跎, which conveys a strong sense of regret for time wasted and opportunities lost.
  • In classical Chinese poetry and literature, 蹉跎 is often used to express lament over the passage of time and unfulfilled ambitions.
  • The concept reflects the traditional Chinese value of making the most of one's time and not squandering youth and opportunities.

FAQ