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踟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踟chíhesitant, undecided; embarrassedv, 15 strokes, radical 足
踟chíhesitatingunknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
chí(chi2)chi T2
  1. 1hesitant, undecided; embarrassed
  2. 2hesitating
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March 24, 2026

踟chí(chi2)

The character 踟 (chí) refers to a state of hesitation or indecision. It is often used in contexts where someone is unsure about taking action or making a choice, conveying a sense of embarrassment or reluctance in moving forward.

Strokes15Radical足
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, hesitation is often viewed as a sign of careful consideration, especially in decision-making processes. This contrasts with cultures that may prioritize decisiveness over deliberation.

Memory tip

Imagine a person standing at a crossroads, their feet firmly planted but their mind racing with doubt. The character 踟 has the foot radical 足 (zú), representing movement, which connects to the idea of being hesitant to take the next step.

Meanings of 踟

chí(chi2)
1hesitant, undecided; embarrassed
2hesitating
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 踟

踟Simplified
15Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 踟

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AI study notes for 踟

Quick Contrast

徘徊 (páihuái) - use 踟 (chí) when emphasizing hesitation or indecision about a specific action, while 徘徊 (páihuái) implies wandering or pacing without a clear destination.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 踟 with similar-sounding words like 持 (chí), which means to hold. Use 踟 in informal contexts, often when discussing feelings of uncertainty. Be careful with tonal pronunciation, as a mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 踟 is not included in official HSK levels, it can be connected to words that express feelings or states of being, such as 想 (xiǎng, to think) or 怕 (pà, to be afraid). Focus on using it in sentences that describe personal experiences of hesitation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 踟 with 犹豫 (yóuyù), leading to sentences like '我踟决定' (Wǒ chí juédìng), which should be corrected to '我犹豫决定' (Wǒ yóuyù juédìng). Another mistake is misusing it in formal contexts, where more precise terms are preferred.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踟

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Etymology of 踟

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

foot

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

Origin

踟 = 足 + 知. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 踟

IDS Structure⿰足知
踟Full character
=
足ju4
left
知zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 踟?

How to say hesitant, undecided; embarrassed in Chinese

“hesitant, undecided; embarrassed” in Chinese is踟chí

The character 踟 (chí) refers to a state of hesitation or indecision. It is often used in contexts where someone is unsure about taking action or making a choice, conveying a sense of embarrassment or reluctance in moving forward.

When to use 踟

Common mistakes include confusing 踟 with similar-sounding words like 持 (chí), which means to hold. Use 踟 in informal contexts, often when discussing feelings of uncertainty. Be careful with tonal pronunciation, as a mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.

踟 or something close to it

徘徊 (páihuái) - use 踟 (chí) when emphasizing hesitation or indecision about a specific action, while 徘徊 (páihuái) implies wandering or pacing without a clear destination.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 踟 with 犹豫 (yóuyù), leading to sentences like '我踟决定' (Wǒ chí juédìng), which should be corrected to '我犹豫决定' (Wǒ yóuyù juédìng). Another mistake is misusing it in formal contexts, where more precise terms are preferred.

Write 踟

踟

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Word Family of 踟

Words containing this character3
踟chíhesitating
踟蹰to waver踟躕
踟蹰不前hesitant to take action踟躕不前
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 踟

What does 踟蹰 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 踟

You can say: 我对这个决定感到踟蹰。(Wǒ duì zhège juédìng gǎndào chí chú.) - 'I feel hesitant about this decision.'

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