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举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定
举棋不定

举棋不定 — “To be hesitant and indecisive”

举棋不定 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be hesitant and indecisive”. To waver; to be unable to make up one's mind. Literally, “Holding a chess piece, unable to decide where to move”.

Frequency

举棋不定 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 举jǔ
  • 棋qí
  • 不bù
  • 定dìng

举棋不定 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
举
jǔ9lift, raise, or undertake
棋
qí12board game pieces
不
bù4not
定
dìng8fix, decide, or stabilize

Example Sentence with 举棋不定

面对两个同样有吸引力的工作机会,他一时举棋不定,不知道该选择哪一个。
Faced with two equally appealing job offers, he was temporarily indecisive, not knowing which one to choose.

Origin and Story of 举棋不定

During the Spring and Autumn period, Ning Zhi, a man from the State of Wei, expelled Duke Xian of Wei and established Gongsun Piao as the new ruler.

Before his death, Ning Zhi instructed his son, Ning Xi, to bring Duke Xian of Wei back from the State of Qi. Ning Xi visited Duke Xian of Wei and expressed his willingness to help him return to Wei.

Afterward, Grand Tutor Dashu Yi told Ning Xi, "Your indecisiveness, like holding a chess piece and not knowing where to play, will bring great disaster."

After Duke Xian of Wei returned to the state, he had Ning Xi killed.

Idioms Related to 举棋不定

Synonyms of 举棋不定

  • yōu优róu柔guǎ寡duàn断indecisive and hesitant
  • yóu犹yù豫bù不jué决hesitant and indecisive

Antonyms of 举棋不定

  • dāng当jī机lì立duàn断make a prompt and decisive decision
  • zhǎn斩dīng钉jié截tiě铁firm and resolute

More idioms starting with 举

  • jǔ举yī一fǎn反sān三infer many from one
  • jǔ举yī一fèi废bǎi百cite one, disregard many
  • jǔ举bù不shèng胜jǔ举too many to list
  • jǔ举shì世wú无lún伦unparalleled in the world
  • jǔ举shì世wú无shuāng双unparalleled in the world
  • jǔ举shì世wú无dí敌Unrivaled in the world
  • jǔ举shì世wú无bǐ比unrivaled in the world
  • jǔ举shì世hún混zhuó浊the whole world is corrupt
  • jǔ举shì世jiē皆zhī知known to all the world
  • jǔ举shì世zhǔ瞩mù目attract worldwide attention
  • jǔ举shì世mò莫bǐ比unparalleled in the world
  • jǔ举shì世wén闻míng名world-renowned

Questions about 举棋不定

What does 举棋不定 mean?
举棋不定 (jǔ qí bù dìng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be hesitant and indecisive”.
How do you pronounce 举棋不定?
举棋不定 is pronounced jǔ qí bù dìng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 举棋不定 literally mean?
Literally, 举棋不定 means “Holding a chess piece, unable to decide where to move”. It is used to mean “to be hesitant and indecisive”.
Where does 举棋不定 come from?
举棋不定 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 举棋不定?
拿着棋子,不知下哪一着才好。比喻犹豫不决,拿不定主意。
Copy the pinyin for 举棋不定 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

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