蹰 (chú): (in 踟蹰) to pace back and forth

Meanings

他在门外踟蹰了很久。

Tā zài ménwài chíchú le hěn jiǔ.

He hesitated outside the door for a long time.

不必踟蹰，做决定吧。

Bùbì chíchú, zuò juédìng ba.

There is no need to hesitate; just make the decision.

usage

蹰 only occurs in 踟蹰, a literary word for lingering and hesitating, also written 踟躇.

radical

足 zú

foot

The foot radical 足, in its compressed left-side form, marks motion of the feet. It pairs with its partner 踟 to mean hesitant pacing.

phonetic

厨 chú

kitchen

Supplies the sound chú exactly. It is the same character seen standing alone as 厨.

蹰 chú