举棋不定 jǔ qí bù dìng be indecisive

Explanation

指拿不定主意，犹豫不决。比喻做事优柔寡断，缺乏决断力。

It means to be indecisive and hesitant. It is a metaphor for someone who is hesitant and indecisive in their actions, lacking decisiveness.

Origin Story

春秋时期，卫国人宁殖将国君卫献公驱逐，另立公孙剽为国君。临终前嘱咐儿子宁喜去齐国接回卫献公。宁喜去看望了卫献公表示愿意帮他回国。大夫大叔仪事后对宁喜说：“你这样举棋不定会招致大祸的。”卫献公回国后就杀了宁喜。宁喜没有听从大夫的建议，犹豫不决，最终酿成了大祸，这也体现了举棋不定是多么危险。

chūn qiū shí qī, wèi guó rén níng zhí jiāng guó jūn wèi xiàn gōng qū zhú, lìng lì gōng sūn piāo wèi guó jūn. lín zhōng qián zhǔ fù ér zi níng xǐ qù qí guó jiē huí wèi xiàn gōng. níng xǐ qù kàn wàng le wèi xiàn gōng biǎo shì yuàn yì bāng tā huí guó. dài fū dà shū yí shì hòu duì níng xǐ shuō: “nǐ zhè yàng jǔ qí bù dìng huì zhāo zhì dà huò de.” wèi xiàn gōng huí guó hòu jiù shā le níng xǐ. níng xǐ méi yǒu tīng cóng dài fū de jiàn yì, yóu yù bù jué, zuì zhōng niàng chéng le dà huò, yě tiǎn shì le jǔ qí bù dìng shì duō me wēi xiǎn.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Ning Zhi, a man from the State of Wei, expelled the ruler Wei Xian Gong and established Gongsun Piao as the new ruler. Before his death, he instructed his son, Ning Xi, to go to Qi and bring back Wei Xian Gong. Ning Xi visited Wei Xian Gong and expressed his willingness to help him return to his country. The noble, Grand Duke Yi, later told Ning Xi: “Your indecision will bring you great misfortune.” After Wei Xian Gong returned to his country, he had Ning Xi killed. Ning Xi did not heed the advice of the noble, hesitated, and ultimately brought great misfortune upon himself. This shows how dangerous it is to be indecisive.

Usage

这个成语形容人在面临选择时犹豫不决，拿不定主意的状态。可以用来形容一个人做事优柔寡断，缺乏决断力。

zhè gè chéng yǔ xíng róng rén zài miàn lín xuǎn zé shí yóu yù bù jué, ná bù dìng zhǔ yì de zhuàng tài. kě yǐ yòng lái xíng róng yī gè rén zuò shì yōu róu guǎ duàn, quē fá jué duàn lì.

This idiom describes the state of being indecisive and hesitant when faced with a choice. It can be used to describe someone who is indecisive in their actions, lacking decisiveness.

Examples

• 面对如此复杂的局面，他举棋不定，不知该如何是好。

  miàn duì rú cǐ fú zá de jú miàn, tā jǔ qí bù dìng, bù zhī gāi rú hé shì hǎo.

  He was indecisive in the face of such a complex situation, not knowing what to do.

• 我举棋不定，不知道该选择哪条路走。

  wǒ jǔ qí bù dìng, bù zhī dào gāi xuǎn zé nǎ tiáo lù zǒu.

  I am indecisive and don't know which way to go.

• 面对这道难题，我举棋不定，不知道该如何解答。

  miàn duì zhè dào ná tí, wǒ jǔ qí bù dìng, bù zhī dào gāi rú hé jiě dá.

  I am at a loss as to how to answer this difficult question.

• 在人生的十字路口，我们常常举棋不定，不知该如何选择。

  zài rén shēng de shí zì lù kǒu, wǒ men cháng cháng jǔ qí bù dìng, bù zhī gāi rú hé xuǎn zé.

  At the crossroads of life, we are often indecisive and don't know how to choose.

• 他举棋不定，在两个方案之间反复权衡。

  tā jǔ qí bù dìng, zài liǎng gè fāng àn zhī jiān fǎn fù quán héng.

  He is indecisive, weighing the two options over and over.

Related Idioms

• 犹豫不决

• 优柔寡断

• 瞻前顾后

• 犹豫

• 迟疑

• 迟疑不决

Opposite Idioms

• 当机立断

• 斩钉截铁

• 果断

• 决断