ためらう・躊躇うtamerau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, intransitive verbto hesitate; to waver
   質問しつもんするのをためらわないでください。↗

   Don't hesitate to ask questions.

• Synonym渋るしぶるNeutralNeutral. Being reluctant or unenthusiastic, as in 「返事を渋る」; 「躊躇う」 stresses inner hesitation.
• Synonym因循いんじゅんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Clinging to old conventions and slow to change, as in 「因循姑息」; 「躊躇う」 is a momentary hesitation.
• Synonym遅疑ちぎWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare; means being slow to decide. In everyday speech use 「躊躇う」 or 「迷う」.
• Synonym右顧左眄うこさべんWrittenA four-character idiom for dithering because you worry about how others will view you; 「躊躇う」 does not necessarily involve other people.
• Synonym逡巡しゅんじゅんWrittenWritten/formal prose for hesitating and holding back, as in 「逡巡する」; 「躊躇う」 is the more colloquial choice.
• Related迷うまようNeutralNeutral. Covers being torn between options and also getting lost; 「躊躇う」 stresses holding back from action out of misgivings.
• Related尻込みしりごみNeutralNeutral. Balking or shrinking back, as in 「尻込みする」; 「躊躇う」 stresses the inner hesitation.
• RelatedうじうじCasualColloquial mimetic word for dawdling and dithering indecisively, with a negative slant; 「躊躇う」 is more neutral.
• Relatedぐら付くぐらつくNeutralNeutral. Shaking physically, or figuratively having one's resolve waver; 「躊躇う」 stresses being unable to make up one's mind.
• Related思い惑うおもいまどうWrittenWritten/formal prose for mulling things over and being at a loss what to do; 「躊躇う」 stresses being slow to act.
• Related惑うまどうWrittenWritten/formal prose for being perplexed or losing one's bearings; 「躊躇う」 stresses indecision.
• Related思い迷うおもいまようWrittenWritten/formal prose for being torn between choices and unable to decide; in everyday speech say 「迷う」.
• RelatedぐじぐじCasualColloquial mimetic word for dawdling and grumbling on, with a negative slant; 「躊躇う」 is more neutral.
• Antonym決断するWrittenWritten/formal prose. Antonym of 「躊躇う」 on the deciding-vs-hesitating axis: to make a firm decision.
• Antonym即断するWrittenWritten/formal prose. Antonym of 「躊躇う」 on the speed-of-decision axis: to decide on the spot without delay.

Use 「躊躇う」 for being slow to make up your mind out of misgivings or reluctance. For being torn between options say 「迷う」, for balking 「尻込み」, for plain unwillingness 「渋る」; in formal prose 「逡巡」 works. The written terms 因循, 遅疑, 右顧左眄, 思い惑う, 惑う, 思い迷う and the colloquial うじうじ, ぐじぐじ each add their own nuance.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 決心けっしんがつかずにぐずぐずする。
2. 言葉ことばを濁にごす。いいよどむ。