chóu
踌躇
hesitant; linger
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesadjective
hesitant; irresolute; indecisive
formalThis is the most common modern usage, often used as part of the compound '踌躇' (chóuchú).
Duì对
yú于
zhè这
ge个
zhòng重
dà大
jué决
dìng定
，
tā他
pō颇
fèi费
chóu踌
chú躇
。
He was quite hesitant about this major decision.
Tā她
zài在
mén门
kǒu口
chóu踌
chú躇
bù不
jué决
，
bù不
zhī知
dào道
gāi该
bù不
gāi该
jìn进
qù去
。
She hesitated at the door, unsure whether to go in.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Wǒ我
chóu踌
chú躇
le了
bàn半
tiān天
，
zhōng终
yú于
shuō说
chū出
le了
zhēn真
xiàng相
。
After hesitating for a long time, I finally told the truth.
verb
to linger; to hesitate to move forward; to pace back and forth
literaryA classical/literary meaning, indicating a physical hesitation or pacing.
Tā他
dú独
zì自
zài在
yuè月
xià下
chóu踌
chú躇
，
xīn心
shì事
chóng重
chóng重
。
He lingered alone under the moonlight, burdened with worries.
Mǎ马
er儿
zài在
hé河
biān边
chóu踌
chú躇
bù不
qián前
，
bù不
kěn肯
guò过
hé河
。
The horse hesitated by the riverbank, refusing to cross.
adjective
self-satisfied; complacent; proud and content
literaryA classical/literary meaning, now almost exclusively found in the idiom '踌躇满志' (chóuchú mǎnzhì).
Tā他
gāng刚
shēng升
le了
zhí职
，
yī一
fù副
chóu踌
chú躇
mǎn满
zhì志
de的
yàng样
zi子
。
He just got promoted and looks immensely proud and satisfied.
Chóu踌
chú躇
mǎn满
zhì志
，
yì意
zài在
qiān千
lǐ里
。
Full of confidence and ambition, aiming for distant goals.