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犹豫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
犹豫
yóuyù
to hesitate
HSK 5, a, 22 strokes, rank #4494, Hard
yóuyù(you2yu4)you yu T2
1to hesitate
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March 24, 2026
犹豫(猶豫)yóuyù(you2yu4)
犹豫 (yóu yù) means to hesitate or be indecisive. It is commonly used in contexts where a person is uncertain about making a decision, often due to conflicting feelings or lack of confidence.
Strokes22Frequency#4494DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, making decisions often involves consulting family or peers, reflecting the collectivist mindset. '犹豫' captures the cultural significance of seeking consensus before committing to choices.
Memory tip
Imagine a person standing at a crossroads, unsure which way to go, embodying the hesitation in '犹豫'. The left component, 犬 (dog), can remind you of loyalty, while the right component, 豕 (pig), could symbolize confusion. Think of a 'loyal dog' hesitating to chase a 'confused pig'.
Meanings of 犹豫
yóuyù(you2yu4)
1to hesitate
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About 犹豫
犹豫Simplified
猶豫Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4494Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 犹豫
Podcast: 犹豫
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AI study notes for 犹豫
Quick Contrast
犹豫 (hesitate) vs 迟疑 (hesitate, but often implies a longer delay or doubt) — choose 犹豫 for a focus on indecision rather than prolonged uncertainty.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone; '犹豫' must be pronounced with the correct tones (yóu yù) to convey hesitation. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful not to overuse it as it may imply weakness in decision-making.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, students should focus on understanding the nuances of hesitation expressed by '犹豫'. Connect it with other related words like '决定' (decide) to deepen understanding of decision-making vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '犹豫' with '犹豫不决' (indecisive), using them interchangeably. While '犹豫' indicates hesitation, '犹豫不决' emphasizes the inability to make a decision. Use '犹豫' for general hesitation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 犹豫
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犹豫 (yóu yù) means to hesitate or be indecisive. It is commonly used in contexts where a person is uncertain about making a decision, often due to conflicting feelings or lack of confidence.
When to use 犹豫
Be mindful of the tone; '犹豫' must be pronounced with the correct tones (yóu yù) to convey hesitation. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but be careful not to overuse it as it may imply weakness in decision-making.
犹豫 or something close to it
犹豫 (hesitate) vs 迟疑 (hesitate, but often implies a longer delay or doubt) — choose 犹豫 for a focus on indecision rather than prolonged uncertainty.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '犹豫' with '犹豫不决' (indecisive), using them interchangeably. While '犹豫' indicates hesitation, '犹豫不决' emphasizes the inability to make a decision. Use '犹豫' for general hesitation.
Write 犹豫
犹
豫
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Grammar patterns of 犹豫
犹豫 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
