Usage note
犹豫表示在做决定时拿不定主意，心里不确定。
Yóu yù biǎo shì zài zuò jué dìng shí ná bù dìng zhǔ yì, xīn lǐ bù què dìng.
Hesitate means being indecisive when making a decision, feeling uncertain.
Context note
比如，选玩具时犹豫，因为两个都喜欢。
Bǐ rú, xuǎn wán jù shí yóu yù, yīn wèi liǎng gè dōu xǐ huān.
For example, hesitating when choosing a toy because you like both.
5 examples
他犹豫要不要吃冰淇淋。
tā yóu yù yào bu yào chī bīng qí lín。
He hesitates whether to eat ice cream.
小红犹豫了很久才选好颜色。
xiǎo hóng yóu yù le hěn jiǔ cái xuǎn hǎo yán sè。
Xiao Hong hesitated for a long time before choosing the color.
别犹豫了，快决定吧。
bié yóu yù le， kuài jué dìng ba。
Don't hesitate, make a decision quickly.
她犹豫要不要参加比赛。
tā yóu yù yào bu yào cān jiā bǐ sài。
She hesitates whether to join the competition.
小明犹豫了一下，然后选了红色。
xiǎo míng yóu yù le yí xià， rán hòu xuǎn le hóng sè。
Xiao Ming hesitated for a moment, then chose red.
5 mini stories
小丽犹豫要不要买那个娃娃。最后她买了。
xiǎo lì yóu yù yào bu yào mǎi nà ge wá wa。 zuì hòu tā mǎi le。
Xiao Li hesitated whether to buy that doll. In the end, she bought it.
小明犹豫选哪个游戏。他选了拼图。
xiǎo míng yóu yù xuǎn nǎ gè yóu xì。 tā xuǎn le pīn tú。
Xiao Ming hesitated which game to choose. He chose the puzzle.
小华犹豫要不要举手。他勇敢地举手了。
xiǎo huá yóu yù yào bu yào jǔ shǒu。 tā yǒng gǎn dì jǔ shǒu le。
Xiao Hua hesitated whether to raise his hand. He bravely raised his hand.
妈妈犹豫做什么菜。她做了番茄炒蛋。
mā ma yóu yù zuò shén me cài。 tā zuò le fān qié chǎo dàn。
Mom hesitated what dish to make. She made scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
小芳犹豫要不要借书。她借了一本童话。
xiǎo fāng yóu yù yào bu yào jiè shū。 tā jiè le yì běn tóng huà。
Xiao Fang hesitated whether to borrow a book. She borrowed a fairy tale.
Mini dialogue
Choosing a snack
A
你想吃苹果还是香蕉？
Nǐ xiǎng chī píngguǒ háishì xiāngjiāo?
Do you want to eat an apple or a banana?
B
我有点犹豫，两个都喜欢。
Wǒ yǒudiǎn yóuyù, liǎng gè dōu xǐhuān.
I'm a bit hesitant, I like both.
Answering a question
A
你知道答案吗？
Nǐ zhīdào dá'àn ma?
Do you know the answer?
B
我不确定，所以犹豫了一下。
Wǒ bù quèdìng, suǒyǐ yóuyù le yīxià.
I'm not sure, so I hesitated for a moment.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
果断
guǒ duàn
decisive
果断 means decisive, opposite of 犹豫 (hesitate).
similar
迟疑
chí yí
hesitate
迟疑 also means to hesitate, similar to 犹豫.