ci4 ji4遲疑迟疑

Jyutpingci4 ji4

Yalechìh yìh

動詞Common

Definition

To hesitate; to be undecided and need time to think.

neutraldaily actionsdescriptions

How it's used

While this word is understood in spoken Cantonese, it carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the more common colloquial expression 揸唔定主意. It is frequently used in written contexts or when someone wants to sound more serious or emphatic about the need for prompt action. In casual conversation, people are much more likely to describe the state of hesitation using phrases like 諗嚟諗去.

Examples

gin3見dou2到jau5有peng4平je5嘢maai5買，nei5你zau6就m4唔hou2好ci4遲ji4疑laa3喇。

When you see something on sale, don't hesitate to buy it.

nei5你zou6做kyut3決ding6定go2嗰zan6陣，wui2會m4唔wui2會hou2好ci4遲ji4疑㗎？

Do you often feel hesitant when you have to make a decision?

Related words

synonymjau4 jyu6猶豫yàuh yyuh

Common phrases

hou4毫bat1不ci4遲ji4疑

without the slightest hesitation

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a noun, but it functions primarily as a verb or an adjective in Cantonese. Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English noun hesitation, as it does not fit the same grammatical slots in a sentence.