To be full of doubts and unable to make a decision; to hesitate and be indecisive due to suspicion.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Story:
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.