Chinese

Alternative forms

• 躊躕／踌蹰

Verb

躊躇

1. to walk back and forth
2. to hesitate
   • 聽完了我的話，老師躊躇了一會兒，才發表他的意見。 [MSC, trad.]
     听完了我的话，老师踌躇了一会儿，才发表他的意见。 [MSC, simp.]

     Tīng wán le wǒ de huà, lǎoshī chóuchú le yīhuìr, cái fābiǎo tā de yìjiàn. [Pinyin]

     After hearing me out, my teacher hesitated for a moment before stating his opinion.

   • 耶穌若來，你準備好沒？不通躊躇，著掠住機會！ [Min Nan, trad.]
     耶稣若来，你准备好没？不通踌躇，着掠住机会！ [Min Nan, simp.]
     From: 生命弦 (LifeStrings), 耶稣欲搁来

     Ia-so͘ nā lâi, lí chún-pī hó bōe? M̄-thang tiû-tû, tio̍h lia̍h tiâu ki-hōe! [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

     If Jesus comes, are you ready yet? Don't hesitate! Hold onto the opportunity!

Synonyms

• 遲疑／迟疑 (chíyí)
• 猶豫／犹豫 (yóuyù)

Adjective

躊躇

1. smug; complacent; self-satisfied

Synonyms

• 志得意滿／志得意满 (zhìdéyìmǎn)

Japanese

Etymology

From Middle Chinese compound 躊躇 ‎(djhiou trhjak, literally “hesitate + jump over, pass over”).

Pronunciation

• On'yomi: Kan'on
• (Tokyo) ちゅ​うちょ [chúꜜùchò] (Atamadaka - [1])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɯᵝːt͡ɕo̞]

Noun

躊躇 ‎(hiragana ちゅうちょ, romaji chūcho, historical hiragana ちうちょ)

1. hesitation, indecision, wavering

Synonyms

• 躊躇 (ためら)い ‎(tamerai)
• 遅疑 (ちぎ) ‎(chigi)
• 逡巡 (しゅんじゅん) ‎(shunjun)
• 猶予 (ゆうよ) ‎(yūyo)

Verb

躊躇する ‎(hiragana ちゅうちょする, romaji chūcho suru, historical hiragana ちうちょする)

1. to hesitate, to be undecided, to waver
   • 2011, Barack Obama, 中東と北アフリカに関するバラク・オバマの演説:

     躊躇 (ちゅうちょ)する訳 (わけ)にはゆかないのである

     chūcho suru wake ni wa yukanai no de aru

     we cannot hesitate

Conjugation

Synonyms

• ぐずぐず ‎(guzuguzu)
• 躊躇 (ためら)う ‎(tamerau)
• 遅疑 (ちぎ) ‎(chigi)
• 逡巡 (しゅんじゅん) ‎(shunjun)
• 猶予 (ゆうよ) ‎(yūyo)

References

1. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9

• 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan