狐疑不决 — “To be full of doubts and unable to make a decision”
狐疑不决 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be full of doubts and unable to make a decision”. To hesitate and be indecisive due to suspicion. Literally, “Fox-like suspicion, unable to decide”.
狐疑不决 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 狐hú
- 疑yí
- 不bù
- 决jué
狐疑不决 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 狐疑不决
Origin and Story of 狐疑不决
There's a story behind the idiom 'hú yí bù jué'. At the Mengjin and Hejin crossings of the Yellow River, where the river is relatively narrow, the water would freeze solid in winter, allowing vehicles and horses to cross on the ice. However, when the ice had just formed, people were naturally hesitant to cross.
The ancients came up with an ingenious method: they would send a fox to test the ice first. Foxes are known for their extreme suspicion; they would walk with great caution, constantly listening for the sound of water beneath the ice.
If a fox displayed 'hú yí bù jué'—hesitating and unable to make up its mind due to suspicion—it meant the ice was particularly perilous, and it would be extremely wary before proceeding. If the fox managed to cross safely, people would then feel assured that it was safe for them to follow.
Thus, 'hú yí bù jué' came to describe someone who is full of doubts and unable to make a decision.
Idioms Related to 狐疑不决
Synonyms of 狐疑不决
Antonyms of 狐疑不决
More idioms starting with 狐
- hú狐bù不èr二xióng雄Two dominant figures cannot coexist
- hú狐jiǎ假hǔ虎wēi威exploit another's power to intimidate
- hú狐jiǎ假chī鸱zhāng张swagger with borrowed authority
- hú狐tù兔zhī之bēi悲sorrow for one's own kind
- hú狐píng凭shǔ鼠fú伏to lurk or hide in secret
- hú狐tīng听zhī之shēng声subtle sound of water flowing under ice
- hú狐chàng唱xiāo枭hé和bad people colluding or echoing
- hú狐mái埋hú狐yáng扬overly suspicious and indecisive
- hú狐mái埋hú狐hú搰overly suspicious and indecisive
- hú狐bēn奔shǔ鼠cuàn窜flee in a panic
- hú狐mèi媚yuán猿pān攀fawn and climb unscrupulously
- hú狐mèi媚yǎn魇dào道seductive and bewitching conduct
Questions about 狐疑不决
- What does 狐疑不决 mean?
- 狐疑不决 (hú yí bù jué) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be full of doubts and unable to make a decision”.
- How do you pronounce 狐疑不决?
- 狐疑不决 is pronounced hú yí bù jué in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 狐疑不决 literally mean?
- Literally, 狐疑不决 means “Fox-like suspicion, unable to decide”. It is used to mean “to be full of doubts and unable to make a decision”.
- Where does 狐疑不决 come from?
- 狐疑不决 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 狐疑不决?
- 传说狐狸多疑，所以称多疑叫狐疑。形容心里疑惑，一时决定不下来。