躕 (chú) - To hesitate & to pace back and forth

躕Tone 2

chú ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

躕 · chú

To hesitate;

to pace back and forth;

to linger;

often used in the compound 踟躕 (chíchú) meaning hesitant, indecisive.

To hesitateto pace back and forthto linger

Usage highlights

HesitatePace back and forthHesitant and indecisiveLinger and hesitateWalk hesitantly

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He hesitated at the door (在门口躕躇).
  • She paced back and forth in the room (在房间里躕步).
  • The project is stuck due to indecision (项目因躕躇不前而停滞).

Collocations

  • Hesitate(躕躇)
  • Pace back and forth(躕步)
  • Hesitant and indecisive(躕躇不前)
  • Linger and hesitate(躕躇徘徊)
  • Walk hesitantly(躕躇而行)

Idioms

  • Hesitant and indecisive(躕躇不前)
  • Pacing back and forth in hesitation(躕躇徘徊)
  • Unable to decide, hesitant(躕躇不定)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often appears in classical Chinese literature to depict characters in emotional turmoil or facing difficult decisions.
  • The character is primarily used in the compound 踟躕/躕躇, which has been part of the Chinese lexicon for centuries.

FAQ