犹豫

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yóuyù: 犹豫 - To Hesitate, Indecisive

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: yóuyù, 犹豫, how to say hesitate in Chinese, indecisive in Chinese, Chinese word for waver, yóuyù bù jué, learn Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4 word, Chinese grammar, Chinese culture.
  • Summary: Learn how to use 犹豫 (yóuyù), the essential Chinese word for “to hesitate” or “be indecisive”. This guide explores the meaning of yóuyù, from its character origins to its use in daily conversation, business, and even cultural proverbs. Discover how to express hesitation in Chinese accurately, understand its nuances compared to English, and master its usage with practical examples, avoiding common mistakes for learners.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yóu yù
  • Part of Speech: Verb / Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To be uncertain or waver when faced with a choice.
  • In a Nutshell: 犹豫 (yóuyù) captures the feeling of being stuck in a moment of indecision. It's that internal debate you have when you're not sure which path to take, whether it's a small choice like ordering food or a big life decision. It describes the state of pausing before acting because of uncertainty, doubt, or conflicting thoughts. It can describe both the brief pause before an action and a longer-term state of being indecisive.

Character Breakdown

  • 犹 (yóu): This character is thought to originally refer to a specific type of monkey known for being exceptionally suspicious and cautious. It would peek out, look around, and hesitate before acting. This gives the word a sense of cautious doubt.
  • 豫 (yù): This character is believed to have originally described a large, elephant-like creature that was slow and deliberate in its movements. This contributes the sense of slowness and being unable to move forward quickly.
  • Combined Meaning: The characters together paint a vivid picture: the suspicious, over-thinking nature of the “you” monkey combined with the slow, heavy-footedness of the “yu” elephant. This creates a powerful image of someone who is mentally and physically “stuck,” unable to proceed due to doubt and indecision.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, 犹豫 (yóuyù) is often viewed as a neutral-to-negative trait, but its interpretation is highly contextual. While decisiveness (果断, guǒduàn) is praised, especially in leaders and business, a complete lack of hesitation can be seen as rash (鲁莽, lǔmǎng) or thoughtless.
  • Comparison to Western Culture: Think of the English concept of “analysis paralysis.” While similar, 犹豫 is a much more common, everyday term that applies to personal situations, not just business or projects. In social interactions, showing a little 犹豫 can sometimes be a good thing. For example, hesitating before rejecting a friend's request shows that you are giving it serious thought and respect their feelings, rather than giving a quick, cold “no.” This ties into the cultural value of giving “face” (面子, miànzi) and maintaining harmony in relationships. Acting too quickly without consideration can cause others to lose face, a major social misstep. Therefore, 犹豫 can sometimes signal thoughtfulness and respect for the complexity of a situation.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • General Conversation: Extremely common. You will hear it used for everything from deciding what to eat for lunch to making major life choices like changing careers.
    • e.g., “我有点儿犹豫要不要买这件衣服。” (Wǒ yǒudiǎnr yóuyù yào bú yào mǎi zhè jiàn yīfu.) - “I'm a bit hesitant about whether to buy this piece of clothing.”
  • Expressing Encouragement: A common way to encourage someone is to tell them not to hesitate.
    • e.g., “别犹豫了，快做决定吧！” (Bié yóuyù le, kuài zuò juédìng ba!) - “Stop hesitating and make a decision!”
  • Business and Formal Settings: In negotiations, a party might express 犹豫 to signal they need more concessions or time. It can also describe market uncertainty, like “investors are hesitating.”
  • Connotation: The connotation is typically neutral when describing a temporary state but becomes negative when it describes a person's core character trait (i.e., being an indecisive person). The idiom 犹豫不决 (yóuyù bù jué)—“hesitating and not deciding”—carries a stronger negative sense of frustrating indecisiveness.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 面对两个工作机会，他犹豫了很久。
    • Pinyin: Miànduì liǎng gè gōngzuò jīhuì, tā yóuyù le hěn jiǔ.
    • English: Faced with two job opportunities, he hesitated for a long time.
    • Analysis: This shows 犹豫 used to describe a prolonged period of indecision about a major life choice.
  • Example 2:
    • 别犹豫了，喜欢就买吧！
    • Pinyin: Bié yóuyù le, xǐhuān jiù mǎi ba!
    • English: Stop hesitating, if you like it, just buy it!
    • Analysis: A very common phrase used to encourage a friend who is being indecisive. “别…了” (bié…le) is a pattern for “stop doing something.”
  • Example 3:
    • 我想问老师一个问题，但又有点儿犹豫。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng wèn lǎoshī yí gè wèntí, dàn yòu yǒudiǎnr yóuyù.
    • English: I want to ask the teacher a question, but I'm a little hesitant.
    • Analysis: Here, the hesitation is caused by shyness or fear of asking a “stupid” question. “有点儿” (yǒudiǎnr) softens the tone.
  • Example 4:
    • 你到底在犹豫什么？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ dàodǐ zài yóuyù shénme?
    • English: What on earth are you hesitating about?
    • Analysis: A direct question showing a bit of impatience. “到底” (dàodǐ) adds emphasis, meaning “on earth” or “in the end.”
  • Example 5:
    • 他这个人做事总是犹豫不决，一点儿也不果断。
    • Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén zuòshì zǒngshì yóuyù bù jué, yìdiǎnr yě bù guǒduàn.
    • English: He is always indecisive when doing things, not decisive at all.
    • Analysis: This uses the four-character idiom 犹豫不决 (yóuyù bù jué) to describe someone's personality trait, with a clearly negative connotation.
  • Example 6:
    • 在投资这件事上，我们不能再犹豫了。
    • Pinyin: Zài tóuzī zhè jiàn shì shàng, wǒmen bù néng zài yóuyù le.
    • English: On the matter of investment, we can't hesitate any longer.
    • Analysis: A common usage in a business or formal context. It implies that further hesitation will lead to a missed opportunity.
  • Example 7:
    • 看到账单的时候，他犹豫了一下，但还是付了钱。
    • Pinyin: Kàndào zhàngdān de shíhou, tā yóuyù le yíxià, dànshì háishì fùle qián.
    • English: When he saw the bill, he hesitated for a moment, but still paid.
    • Analysis: The phrase “了一下” (yíxià) signifies a brief, momentary action. This is the perfect way to say “hesitated for a moment.”
  • Example 8:
    • 我犹豫着要不要告诉他真相。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ yóuyù zhe yào bu yào gàosù tā zhēnxiàng.
    • English: I'm hesitating about whether or not to tell him the truth.
    • Analysis: The particle “着” (zhe) indicates the ongoing state of hesitation. The speaker is currently in the middle of this internal debate.
  • Example 9:
    • 他的回答没有一丝犹豫。
    • Pinyin: Tā de huídá méiyǒu yì sī yóuyù.
    • English: There wasn't a trace of hesitation in his answer.
    • Analysis: This shows 犹豫 used as a noun, meaning “hesitation.” “一丝” (yì sī) means “a trace” or “a sliver.”
  • Example 10:
    • 如果你毫不犹豫地选择了我，那我会毫不犹豫地跟你走。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ háo bù yóuyù de xuǎnzéle wǒ, nà wǒ huì háo bù yóuyù de gēn nǐ zǒu.
    • English: If you choose me without any hesitation, then I will follow you without any hesitation.
    • Analysis: A romantic or dramatic line. “毫不” (háo bù) means “not even a bit,” creating the strong phrase “毫不犹豫” (háo bù yóuyù) - “without any hesitation.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • “Hesitate” vs. 犹豫: While “hesitate” is the best translation, it's important to know that 犹豫 can describe a much longer mental state than the English word often implies. You can 犹豫 for days over a decision. English “hesitate” often refers to the brief physical pause right before an action (e.g., “He hesitated at the door”). 犹豫 covers that, but also the entire internal process of being undecided.
  • False Friend - Don't confuse with 害羞 (hàixiū): A beginner might hesitate to speak because they are shy. But the words are different. 犹豫 is about indecision. 害羞 (hàixiū) is about shyness or timidity. You can be a very decisive person but still feel shy in certain situations.
  • Incorrect Usage (Physical Stumbling): Do not use 犹豫 to describe a purely physical action, like stumbling or pausing from a loss of balance.
    • Incorrect: 他在楼梯上犹豫了一下，差点摔倒。(Tā zài lóutī shàng yóuyù le yíxià, chàdiǎn shuāidǎo.)
    • Correct: 他在楼梯上停顿了一下，差点摔倒。(Tā zài lóutī shàng tíngdùn le yíxià, chàdiǎn shuāidǎo.) - He paused for a moment on the stairs and almost fell. (Here, 停顿 (tíngdùn), meaning “to pause,” is the correct choice for a physical stop).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 犹豫不决 (yóuyù bù jué) - A chengyu (idiom) that literally means “hesitate and not decide.” It's a more emphatic and often more negative way to describe indecisiveness.
  • 果断 (guǒduàn) - The direct antonym: decisive, resolute, and firm.
  • 决定 (juédìng) - To decide; a decision. This is the action that ends the state of 犹豫.
  • 考虑 (kǎolǜ) - To consider, to think over. This is the mental process one engages in while feeling 犹豫.
  • 怀疑 (huáiyí) - To doubt, to suspect. Doubt is a primary cause of 犹豫.
  • 拿不定主意 (ná bú dìng zhǔyi) - A very common and colloquial phrase that means “can't make up one's mind.” It's a perfect synonym for the feeling of 犹豫.
  • 踌躇 (chóuchú) - A more literary and formal synonym for 犹豫. You are more likely to see it in writing than hear it in casual conversation.
  • 为难 (wéinán) - To feel awkward; to be in a dilemma. This feeling of being put in a difficult position often leads to 犹豫.