jau4 ji4猶疑犹疑
Jyutpingjau4 ji4
Yaleyàuh yìh
Definition
To hesitate, waver, or pause before making a decision.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
猶疑 implies a state of mental conflict or indecision that prevents immediate action. It is often used in situations where someone is overthinking or missing an opportunity due to being too cautious. While it functions as a verb, it is frequently used with the aspect marker 緊 to describe an ongoing state of hesitation.
Examples
If you see something good, just buy it; don't hesitate for so long.
What are you still hesitating about? Hurry up and decide.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 猶疑 with 懷疑, which means to doubt or suspect. While 猶疑 is about being unable to make a choice, 懷疑 is about questioning the truth or validity of something.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
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Particle
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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.
