躇 (chú) · (in 踌躇) to hesitate; to waver

Meanings

1 (in 踌躇) to hesitate; to waver

Characters

躇

chú

(in 踌躇) to hesitate

Examples

HSK 7-9

操欲立嗣，踌躇不定。

Cāo yù lì sì, chóuchú bù dìng.

Cao Cao wanted to choose an heir but hesitated, unable to settle it.

HSK 7-9

面对抉择，他不禁踌躇起来。

Miànduì juézé, tā bùjīn chóuchú qǐlái.

Faced with the choice, he could not help hesitating.

Tips

usage

躇 is a bound character used only in 踌躇 (to hesitate) and 踌躇满志 (smugly self-satisfied). It never stands on its own in modern Chinese.

Components

radical

足 zú

foot

The foot radical, fitting the pacing-back-and-forth image inside 踌躇, to waver indecisively.

phonetic

著 zhù

to manifest; marked

Provides the sound. Read 著 alone, it shifts to chú here and contributes only the phonetic cue, no meaning.

Stroke Order

躇 chú

Related Words

踌躇 chóuchú #26,107

to hesitate / to waver / to pace back and forth

踌躇满志 chóuchú-mǎnzhì #53,680

smugly self-satisfied / enormously pleased with one's success / complacent after accomplishment

踟蹰不前 chíchú-bùqián

to hesitate to advance / to waver and not move forward / irresolute

踌 chóu

(in 踌躇) to hesitate; to waver

游移不定 yóuyí-búdìng

to waver indecisively / to fluctuate without resolve / to hesitate; can't make up one's mind

徨 huáng

(in 彷徨) to pace back and forth; to hesitate; to waver

蹰 chú

(in 踟蹰) to pace back and forth / to hesitate

犹豫 yóuyù HSK 5 #4,494

to hesitate; to be indecisive / hesitant; irresolute

不惜 bùxī HSK 7-9 #4,489

not hesitate to / not spare / at any cost

摇摆 yáobǎi HSK 7-9 #5,952

to sway / to swing / to waver / to vacillate