游移 (yóu yí) — to waver, to vacillate

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning 'to waver, vacillate' — used in writing for indecisive attitudes or opinions, not for physical movement. Pairs with 不定 or 不决 (e.g. 游移不定).

verb
to waverto vacillate

Examples

  • 游移,。
    Tā de tài dù yì zhí zài yóu yí, méi yǒu míng què biǎo tài.
    His attitude has been wavering; he hasn't taken a clear stance.
  • ,游移,。
    Zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng, tā yóu yí bú dìng, wú fǎ zuò chū jué dìng.
    On this issue, she vacillates and cannot make a decision.
  • 游移,。
    Lǐng dǎo céng de yì jiàn yóu yí bù jué, dǎo zhì xiàng mù chí chí méi yǒu jìn zhǎn.
    The leadership's opinions vacillate, causing the project to stall.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

游yóushift/roam
移yímove

游 (shift) and 移 (move) combine for wavering or hesitating.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
斿
斿yóu游yóu
Same sound today

游 combines 水 (water) with 斿, which gives the sound yóu and also relates to travelling.

Open 游 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
多
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

移 pairs 禾, a grain plant, with 多, which gives the sound.

Open 移 →

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