缩手缩脚 (suō shǒu suō jiǎo) — (idiom) to shrink from cold; to curl up due to cold; (idiom) to be overcautious; to act with excessive timidity

Definition

Literally 'shrink hands and feet,' this idiom means being timid or overcautious — pulling back from action rather than committing. In the first sense (curling up from cold) it is rare; the everyday meaning is excessive hesitation.

idiom
to shrink from coldto curl up due to coldto be overcautiousto act with excessive timidity

Examples

  • ，缩手缩脚。
    Tiān tài lěng le, dòng dé tā suō shǒu suō jiǎo de.
    It was so cold that he was shivering and curling up.
  • ，缩手缩脚。
    Zuò jué dìng shí yào guǒ duàn, bù néng suō shǒu suō jiǎo.
    When making decisions, you need to be decisive and not overcautious.
  • 缩手缩脚，。
    Tā zǒng shì zài guān jiàn shí kè suō shǒu suō jiǎo, cuò shī le hěn duō jī huì.
    He always hesitates at critical moments, missing many opportunities.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.

Open 缩 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.

Open 缩 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →

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