Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
踯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踯zhíto hesitate, to waver; irresolutex, 15 strokes, radical 足
踯zhíhesitatingunknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
踯zhíto stopunknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
zhí(zhi2)zhi T2
  1. 1to hesitate, to waver; irresolute
  2. 2hesitating
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

踯(躑)zhí(zhi2)

The character 踯 (zhí) conveys the idea of hesitation or wavering in decision-making. It is often used to describe a person who is indecisive or lacking resolve, frequently in contexts that involve making choices or taking action. This term can also imply a physical stopping or pausing, reflecting a mental state of uncertainty.

Strokes15Radical足
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, decisiveness is often valued, and hesitation might be seen as a weakness. The concept of making choices is tied to Confucian values of responsibility and moral integrity, making the idea of 踯 particularly relevant in discussions about personal conduct and social expectations.

Memory tip

Imagine a person standing at a crossroads, their feet planted firmly but hesitating to move in any direction. The character 踯 has a foot radical (足) at the bottom, symbolizing movement, while the upper components suggest a sense of stopping and thinking, reinforcing the meaning of hesitation.

Meanings of 踯

zhí(zhi2)
1to hesitate, to waver; irresolute
2hesitating
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 踯 means.

About 踯

踯Simplified
躑Traditional
15Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 踯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 踯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 踯

Usage Notes

When using 踯, be mindful that it typically conveys a negative connotation of indecision. It is more common in literary or formal contexts, so in casual conversation, simpler terms might be preferred. Watch out for tone pitfalls; ensure the correct pronunciation of 'zhí' to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 踯 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to HSK Level 4 words that discuss emotions and actions. Students should focus on recognizing this character in reading comprehension exercises, especially in literary texts where nuance is critical.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 踯 with similar characters like 止 (stop) or 忧 (worry), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我踯去商店' (I hesitate to go to the store) is incorrect; it should be '我踯躇去商店' (I hesitate to go to the store).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踯

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 踯 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 踯 to you

Let me explain 踯 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 踯 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 踯?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 踯 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 踯

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

foot

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

Origin

踯 = 足 + 郑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 踯

IDS Structure⿰足郑
踯Full character
=
足ju4
left
郑Zheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 踯?

How to say to hesitate, to waver; irresolute in Chinese

“to hesitate, to waver; irresolute” in Chinese is踯zhí

The character 踯 (zhí) conveys the idea of hesitation or wavering in decision-making. It is often used to describe a person who is indecisive or lacking resolve, frequently in contexts that involve making choices or taking action. This term can also imply a physical stopping or pausing, reflecting a mental state of uncertainty.

When to use 踯

When using 踯, be mindful that it typically conveys a negative connotation of indecision. It is more common in literary or formal contexts, so in casual conversation, simpler terms might be preferred. Watch out for tone pitfalls; ensure the correct pronunciation of 'zhí' to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 踯 with similar characters like 止 (stop) or 忧 (worry), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我踯去商店' (I hesitate to go to the store) is incorrect; it should be '我踯躇去商店' (I hesitate to go to the store).

Write 踯

踯

Practice writing 踯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 踯

踯 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他们在斯洛泼医生家白色大理石台阶前又____躅了一会儿.

They lingered a moment at the foot of Doctor Sloper's white marble steps.

Example sentences for 踯 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们在斯洛泼医生家白色大理石台阶前又踯躅了一会儿.

tāmen zài Sī luò pō yīshēng jiā báisè dà lǐ dàn táijiē qián yòu zhí zhú le yíhuìr.

They lingered a moment at the foot of Doctor Sloper's white marble steps.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 踯?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 踯

Words containing this character2
踯躅to tread躑躅
踯zhíto stop躑
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 踯

What does 踯躅 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 踯

In everyday conversation, 踯 may not be commonly used, but it can describe someone who is indecisive or unsure about their choices.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 踯?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab