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躊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
躊chóuto falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfiedx, 21 strokes, radical 足
chóu(chou2)chou T2
  1. 1to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied
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March 24, 2026

躊chóu(chou2)

The character 躊 (chóu) conveys the sense of hesitating or faltering, often in decision-making or action. It can also imply a feeling of smugness or self-satisfaction, indicating a state where one is overly pleased with oneself, potentially at the expense of others. This word is used in contexts where someone is indecisive or overly self-satisfied.

Strokes21Radical足
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, hesitation can be seen as a sign of careful consideration, but excessive self-satisfaction is often frowned upon, as humility is highly valued. The character 躊 reflects this balance between thoughtful decision-making and the dangers of arrogance.

Memory tip

Imagine a person standing on the edge of a diving board, hesitating to jump into the pool, while a smug onlooker stands by, grinning. The character 躊 looks like a person (the top part) standing on the ground (the bottom part), symbolizing hesitation and self-satisfaction.

Meanings of 躊

chóu(chou2)
1to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 躊

躊Simplified
21Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 躊

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AI study notes for 躊

Usage Notes

It's important to use 躊 in the right contexts, as it can imply a negative connotation when referring to hesitation. A common mistake is to use it in overly casual situations; instead, it tends to fit better in formal contexts or literary discussions. Watch out for the tone: the second tone in 'chóu' can be confused with similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 躊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to emotions and mental states, like 想 (xiǎng - to think) and 犹豫 (yóuyù - to hesitate). Focus on recognizing its meaning in literature and advanced texts to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 躊 with similar characters like 想 (xiǎng) and 犹豫 (yóuyù), misusing it in contexts that require simpler expressions of thought. For example, saying '我躊这个问题' (I hesitate this question) should be corrected to '我犹豫这个问题' (I hesitate about this question).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 躊

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Etymology of 躊

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 寿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 躊.

Memory hint

foot

Semantic (meaning)足
+
Phonetic (sound)壽
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

躊 = 足 + 壽. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 躊

IDS Structure⿰足壽
躊Full character
=
足ju4
left
壽shou4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 躊?

How to say to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied in Chinese

“to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied” in Chinese is躊chóu

The character 躊 (chóu) conveys the sense of hesitating or faltering, often in decision-making or action. It can also imply a feeling of smugness or self-satisfaction, indicating a state where one is overly pleased with oneself, potentially at the expense of others. This word is used in contexts where someone is indecisive or overly self-satisfied.

When to use 躊

It's important to use 躊 in the right contexts, as it can imply a negative connotation when referring to hesitation. A common mistake is to use it in overly casual situations; instead, it tends to fit better in formal contexts or literary discussions. Watch out for the tone: the second tone in 'chóu' can be confused with similar-sounding characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 躊 with similar characters like 想 (xiǎng) and 犹豫 (yóuyù), misusing it in contexts that require simpler expressions of thought. For example, saying '我躊这个问题' (I hesitate this question) should be corrected to '我犹豫这个问题' (I hesitate about this question).

Write 躊

躊

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Word Family of 躊

Words containing this character4
踌躇to hesitate躊躇
踌躇满志complacent躊躇滿志
踌chóuto waver躊
踌躇不决to hesitate躊躇不決
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 躊

What does 踌躇 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 躊

While both suggest hesitation, 躊 often carries a sense of smugness or self-satisfaction, whereas 犹豫 focuses more on indecision.

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