How to Write 踟 (chí) — Meaning “to hesitate”

Picture a foot (足) standing at a temple (寺) but taking only tiny steps (彳), unsure whether to go inside. The combination of foot and hesitation creates the image of someone pacing back and forth. This visual helps you recall that 踟 means "to hesitate."

The character has 15 strokes: start with the left radical 足 (7 strokes), then the right part 彳 (3 strokes) above 寺 (6 strokes). Common mistakes include making the lower part of 足 too narrow or forgetting the dot stroke inside the 寺 component. Keep the left and right halves balanced, with the 彳 slightly higher than the 寺 below it.

踟 and 跟 both use the 足 radical, but 跟 (meaning "heel" or "to follow") has a completely different right side (艮). While 踟 appears only in the compound 踟蹰 meaning "to hesitate," 跟 is a common character for actions like following or accompanying someone. Visually, 跟 has a simpler right side and lacks the hesitation nuance.

踟 is rarely used alone; it almost always appears in the two-character word 踟蹰 (chí chú) meaning "to hesitate or waver." This word is often used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone who is uncertain about moving forward, such as 踟蹰不前 (hesitating to advance). You may encounter it in classical poetry or formal writing, but it is not common in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 踟 include: 踟蹰 (chí chú) — to hesitate; to waver; 踟蹰不前 (chí chú bù qián) — to hesitate to move forward; 略有踟蹰 (lüè yǒu chí chú) — To hesitate a bit.