# 犹豫不决

yóu yù bù jué

Hesitate without making a decision

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Waver and fail to decide

**Traditional Chinese:** 猶豫不決

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe an unresolved choice that delays action.

Taking time to gather needed facts is different.

## Understanding the expression

The person moves mentally between alternatives but does not settle on one. The expression can concern a small purchase or a major life choice; what matters is the continuing hesitation. It often implies that the delay is becoming unhelpful. Uncertainty can be reasonable when information is missing, however. The useful distinction is whether more thought is improving the decision or merely repeating the same worries without moving toward a choice.

## Examples

她在两份工作之间犹豫不决。

### Traditional Chinese

她在兩份工作之間猶豫不決。

tā zài liǎng fèn gōng zuò zhī jiān yóu yù bù jué 。

She could not decide between two jobs.

他犹豫不决，错过了报名。

### Traditional Chinese

他猶豫不決，錯過了報名。

tā yóu yù bù jué ， cuò guò le bào míng 。

His indecision made him miss registration.

买哪种颜色，她犹豫不决。

### Traditional Chinese

買哪種顏色，她猶豫不決。

mǎi nǎ zhǒng yán sè ， tā yóu yù bù jué 。

She could not decide which color to buy.

大家还犹豫不决，列车却快开了。

### Traditional Chinese

大家還猶豫不決，列車卻快開了。

dà jiā hái yóu yù bù jué ， liè chē què kuài kāi le 。

Everyone was still hesitating, but the train was about to leave.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%8C%B6%E8%B1%AB%E4%B8%8D%E6%B1%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=754&webMd=1&la=0)

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