indecisive; hesitate; waver
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to hesitate over what move to make (in chess); to be indecisive; to waver
literaryOriginally refers to holding a chess piece (棋) without deciding where to move it. Now commonly used to describe someone who cannot make up their mind when faced with important choices or decisions. Often carries a slight negative connotation of lacking decisiveness.
Zài在
zhè这
ge个
guān关
jiàn键
shí时
kè刻
，
tā他
jǔ举
qí棋
bù不
dìng定
，
cuò错
guò过
le了
zuì最
hǎo好
de的
jī机
huì会
。
At this critical moment, he was indecisive and missed the best opportunity.
Miàn面
duì对
liǎng两
ge个
tóng同
yàng样
yōu优
xiù秀
de的
gōng工
zuò作
jī机
huì会
，
tā她
jǔ举
qí棋
bù不
dìng定
。
Faced with two equally excellent job offers, she wavered indecisively.
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Lǐng领
dǎo导
jǔ举
qí棋
bù不
dìng定
，
xià下
shǔ属
men们
yě也
bù不
zhī知
dào道
gāi该
rú如
hé何
xíng行
dòng动
。
The leader was hesitant and indecisive, so the subordinates didn't know how to act either.
Zài在
tóu投
zī资
fāng方
xiàng向
shàng上
，
gōng公
sī司
gāo高
céng层
jǔ举
qí棋
bù不
dìng定
，
dǎo导
zhì致
cuò错
shī失
shì市
chǎng场
liáng良
jī机
。
Regarding investment direction, the company's senior management was indecisive, leading to missed market opportunities.