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迟迟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
迟迟chíchílate (with a task etc)HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #26311, Very Hard
迟迟chíchíslowHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #26311, Very Hard
chíchí(chi2chi2)chi chi T2
  1. 1late (with a task etc)
  2. 2slow
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March 24, 2026

迟迟(遲遲)chíchí(chi2chi2)

迟迟 (chí chí) refers to a state of being late or delayed, often in relation to tasks or actions. It conveys a sense of slowness or procrastination, indicating that something is taking longer than expected.

Strokes14Frequency#26311DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, punctuality is often highly valued in both professional and personal settings. The term 迟迟 can reflect not only a delay but also an attitude toward time management, which is a significant aspect of social interactions.

Memory tip

Imagine a turtle named Chi who is always late to its meetings because it takes its time to enjoy the scenery. The repetition in 迟迟 (chí chí) emphasizes this slowness, just like the slow-moving turtle.

Meanings of 迟迟

chíchí(chi2chi2)
1late (with a task etc)
2slow
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About 迟迟

迟迟Simplified
遲遲Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 迟迟

Quick Contrast

迟 (chí) vs 拖拖 (tuō tuō) — use 迟 for a general sense of lateness, while 拖拖 emphasizes procrastination or dragging one's feet.

Usage Notes

This word is often used in informal contexts to describe delays in tasks or responses. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar words like '晚' (wǎn), which means 'late' but does not carry the same sense of prolonged delay.

HSK Study Tips

While 迟迟 is not an official HSK word, it can be useful for learners studying at the intermediate level. Focus on its usage in sentences to master the subtlety of delay and procrastination, especially in conversational contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 迟迟 with similar-sounding words like '迟到' (chídào), which means 'to arrive late.' For instance, saying '我迟迟到' (Wǒ chí chí dào) is incorrect; instead, it should be '我迟到' (Wǒ chídào).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 迟迟

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Component characters

迟chílate
HSK 47 strokes辶
View full entry
迟chílate
HSK 47 strokes辶
View full entry

How to say late (with a task etc) in Chinese

“late (with a task etc)” in Chinese is迟迟chíchí

迟迟 (chí chí) refers to a state of being late or delayed, often in relation to tasks or actions. It conveys a sense of slowness or procrastination, indicating that something is taking longer than expected.

When to use 迟迟

This word is often used in informal contexts to describe delays in tasks or responses. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar words like '晚' (wǎn), which means 'late' but does not carry the same sense of prolonged delay.

迟迟 or something close to it

迟 (chí) vs 拖拖 (tuō tuō) — use 迟 for a general sense of lateness, while 拖拖 emphasizes procrastination or dragging one's feet.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 迟迟 with similar-sounding words like '迟到' (chídào), which means 'to arrive late.' For instance, saying '我迟迟到' (Wǒ chí chí dào) is incorrect; instead, it should be '我迟到' (Wǒ chídào).

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迟
迟

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Frequently asked questions about 迟迟

It's generally more suitable for informal conversations; in formal contexts, consider using '延迟' (yánchí) instead.

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