Definition
举棋不定 is a vivid idiom (chengyu) meaning 'to hesitate over a decision', literally 'lift the chess piece undecided'. It's more specific and literary than 犹豫 (general hesitation) or 犹豫不决 (indecisive); it emphasizes being torn between options, like a strategic move. Unlike 不知所措 (at a loss) or 动摇 (weakened resolve), it focuses on the moment of choosing.
phrase
to be indecisiveto waverto hesitate
Examples
- ，举棋不定。Miàn duì liǎng gè gōngzuò jīhuì, tā yīzhí jǔ qí-bú dìng.Faced with two job offers, he has been hesitating all along.
- 举棋不定，。Bié zài jǔ qí-bú dìng le, shíjiān bù děng rén.Stop wavering — time waits for no one.
- ，举棋不定，。Zài rénshēng de shízìlùkǒu, tā jǔ qí-bú dìng, bù zhī gāi wǎng nǎ zǒu.At the crossroads of life, he was indecisive, not knowing where to go.
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