geoi2 kei4 bat1 ding6舉棋不定举棋不定
Jyutpinggeoi2 kei4 bat1 ding6
Yalegéui kèih bāt dihng
Definition
To be indecisive, hesitant, or unable to make up one's mind.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite its common usage in everyday speech. It is often used to criticize someone for wasting time or holding up progress because they cannot commit to a choice. While it originates from the imagery of a chess game, it is now applied to any situation involving decision making.
Examples
Stop being so indecisive, hurry up and pick one.
He is always so indecisive, it makes everyone very annoyed.
Related words
Common phrases
to be indecisive in one's actions
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective, but it functions as a verb phrase. Avoid using it to describe a person as a permanent trait; it is better used to describe the specific act of hesitating in a moment of choice.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
