蹰 (chú) - To hesitate & to walk back and forth indecisively

蹰Tone 2

chú ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

蹰 · chú

To hesitate;

to walk back and forth indecisively;

to pace up and down.

To hesitateto walk back and forth indecisivelyto pace up and down.

Usage highlights

Hesitate and pacePace back and forthHesitate to move forwardWalk indecisivelyHesitate at the crossroads

Synonyms

  • 躇— to hesitate; to pause
  • 犹豫— to hesitate; to be indecisive
  • 徘徊— to pace back and forth; to hesitate

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He hesitated at the door (在门口蹰躇).
  • She paced back and forth in the corridor (在走廊里蹰躇).
  • The decision made him hesitate for a long time (这个决定让他蹰躇了很久).

Collocations

  • Hesitate and pace(蹰躇)
  • Pace back and forth(蹰躇不前)
  • Hesitate to move forward(蹰躇不进)
  • Walk indecisively(蹰躇而行)
  • Hesitate at the crossroads(在十字路口蹰躇)

Idioms

  • Hesitate and not advance(蹰躇不前)
  • Pace up and down indecisively(蹰躇不进)
  • Hesitate and pace around(蹰躇徘徊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often appears in classical Chinese literature to depict characters in emotional turmoil or facing difficult decisions.
  • Frequently used in poetic contexts to convey a sense of hesitation, contemplation, or internal conflict.
  • The character is rarely used alone in modern Chinese, typically appearing in the compound word 蹰躇.

FAQ