优柔寡断

優柔寡斷

yōuróu-guǎduàn

idiom #20,729

Meanings

1 indecisive
2 irresolute
3 wishy-washy
4 unable to make decisions

Characters

gentle, leisurely, excellent

soft, gentle, yielding

few, scarce, widowed

to decide, to cut off, judgment

Examples

HSK 7-9

他优柔寡断，迟迟做不了决定。

Tā yōuróu-guǎduàn, chíchí zuò bù liǎo juédìng.

He is indecisive and cannot make a decision for a long time.

HSK 7-9

领导者不能优柔寡断，需要果断行动。

Lǐngdǎozhě bùnéng yōuróu-guǎduàn, xūyào guǒduàn xíngdòng.

Leaders cannot be indecisive - they need to act decisively.

Tips

memory

优柔 means 'gentle and soft'; 寡断 means 'few decisions.' Together: someone so gentle and soft they make very few decisions - the classic image of someone who hesitates endlessly.

Stroke Order

优 yōu

柔 róu

寡 guǎ

断 duàn