迟疑

• Pinyin: chí yí
• Hanzi breakdown: 迟 = 辶 (movement) + 尺 (ruler, phonetic) = late/slow; 疑 = doubt/suspect

Meaning

To hesitate; hesitant; indecisive. To pause due to uncertainty.

Describes the state of being uncertain and slow to act or decide. Can function as both a verb and adjective. Often appears with 不 in 毫不迟疑 (without hesitation).

Examples

1. 面对这个选择，她显得有些迟疑。 Facing this choice, she seemed somewhat hesitant.
2. 他毫不迟疑地接受了这个挑战。 He accepted the challenge without any hesitation.
3. 事情紧急，不能再迟疑了。 The matter is urgent; there's no time to hesitate anymore.

Usage Guide

Context: decisions, uncertainty, psychology

Tone: thoughtful

Do Say

• 她迟疑了一下，还是把真相说了出来。(She hesitated for a moment, then told the truth.)
• 当机立断，不要迟疑。(Make a decisive move; don't hesitate.)

Don't Say

• 我很迟疑地喜欢他 (迟疑 describes uncertainty in action, not in feelings — use 犹豫 for emotional uncertainty)

Origin & History

Compound of 迟 (late/slow) and 疑 (doubt). Together they describe slowness caused by doubt or uncertainty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal