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March 24, 2026
迟疑(遲疑)chíyí(chi2yi2)
迟疑 (chí yí) means to hesitate or to be indecisive. It is often used in situations where someone is unsure about making a decision or taking action, reflecting a pause or uncertainty in thought or behavior.
Frequency#15861DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hesitation is often viewed as a sign of thoughtfulness rather than weakness. This contrasts with some Western cultures that may interpret hesitation as indecision or lack of confidence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing at a crossroads, unsure which path to take. The character 迟 (chí) resembles a person 'sitting' (the left side represents 'a person') with a 'road' in front, while 疑 (yí) can remind you of an eye looking in doubt. Together, they evoke the feeling of hesitation.
Meanings of 迟疑
chíyí(chi2yi2)
1to hesitate
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 迟疑
迟疑Simplified
遲疑Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#15861Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 迟疑
Podcast: 迟疑
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AI Study Notes for 迟疑
Quick Contrast
犹豫 (yóuyù) vs 迟疑 (chíyí): use 迟疑 when emphasizing a pause in decision-making, while 犹豫 implies a more prolonged indecision.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing at a crossroads, unsure which path to take. The character 迟 (chí) resembles a person 'sitting' (the left side represents 'a person') with a 'road' in front, while 疑 (yí) can remind you of an eye looking in doubt. Together, they evoke the feeling of hesitation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse this with similar words like 犹豫 (yóu yù), which has a more casual tone. 迟疑 is more formal and can be used in written and spoken contexts. Be careful with the tones; mixing them can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 迟疑 is useful for expressing complex emotions and thoughts in conversations. Focus on using it in contexts related to decision-making and personal reflections, linking it with other HSK 6 words related to feelings and choices.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hesitation is often viewed as a sign of thoughtfulness rather than weakness. This contrasts with some Western cultures that may interpret hesitation as indecision or lack of confidence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 迟疑 with the verb 猜疑 (cāi yí) which means to suspect. For example, saying '我迟疑他的动机' (I hesitate his motives) is incorrect; the correct form should be '我怀疑他的动机' (I suspect his motives).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 迟疑
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Grammar Patterns of 迟疑
迟疑 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
“你能帮我个忙吗？”她____地问。
"Would you do me a favour?" she asked hesitantly.
Example Sentences for 迟疑 (5)
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1
“你能帮我个忙吗？”她迟疑地问。
“ “ nǐ néng bāng wǒ gè máng？” ma ？” tā chí yí。
"Would you do me a favour?" she asked hesitantly.
2
有一小会儿他看上去有些迟疑不定，之后又恢复了镇定。
yǒu yī xiǎo huì ér tā kàn shàng qù yǒu xiē chí yí bù dìng， ， zhī hòu yòu huī fù le zhèn。
For a minute he looked uncertain, and then recovered his composure.
3
对于两件衣服中选哪一件她迟疑不决.
duì yú liǎng jiàn yī fú zhōng xuǎn nǎ yī jiàn tā chí yí bù jué.
She hesitated over the choice between the two dresses.
4
她犹豫了一下，带着迟疑的微笑把手伸了出去。
tā yóu yù le yī xià， ， dài zháo chí yí de wēi xiào bǎ shǒu shēn le chū。
With some hesitation and an uncertain smile, she held out her hand.
5
略一迟疑以后,冯云卿就给了一百块.
lüè yī chí yí yǐ hòu, , féng yún qīng jiù gěi le yī bǎi.
After a moment's hesitation Feng Yun - ching handed over a hundred dollars.
Cultural Notes for 迟疑
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, hesitation is often viewed as a sign of thoughtfulness rather than weakness. This contrasts with some Western cultures that may interpret hesitation as indecision or lack of confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions about 迟疑
While both mean to hesitate, 迟疑 is more formal and often implies a deeper contemplation, whereas 犹豫 is more casual and can refer to everyday indecisiveness.
Yes, 迟疑 is appropriate in both formal writing and spoken contexts, particularly when discussing serious decisions or feelings.
Try creating sentences that reflect situations where you might hesitate, such as deciding to take a new job or make a significant life change.
