迟疑 is a verb meaning 'to hesitate' — to pause or waver before acting or speaking, often due to uncertainty, doubt, or reluctance. The character 迟 means 'late' or 'slow', suggesting delay in action; 疑 means 'to doubt' or 'to suspect', indicating mental uncertainty. Together, they vividly convey the dual nature of hesitation: both a physical slowing down and an internal state of doubt. It’s commonly used in contexts involving decision-making, answering questions, or taking action under pressure.

This word is neutral in register but tends to appear in written Chinese and formal speech more than casual conversation, where simpler terms like 犹豫 (yóu yù) are more frequent. It can function as a predicate verb (e.g., 他迟疑了一下) or as a descriptive complement (e.g., 迟疑不决). Unlike some emotion verbs, 迟疑 is rarely used as a noun or adjective without modification, and it almost always implies a brief, observable pause — not long-term indecision.