‘顾虑’ is a noun meaning ‘concern’ or ‘worry’, especially about possible negative consequences or risks. It combines two characters: 顾 (gù), meaning ‘to attend to’ or ‘to take into account’, and 虑 (lǜ), meaning ‘to think carefully’ or ‘to worry’. Together, they convey the idea of mentally weighing potential problems before acting — often implying hesitation due to fear of harm, embarrassment, or failure. Unlike general anxiety (焦虑), 顾虑 is usually tied to a specific situation or decision and carries a tone of cautious deliberation.

This word commonly appears in formal or thoughtful speech — for example, when discussing personal choices, social interactions, or professional decisions. It’s often used with verbs like 有 (yǒu, ‘to have’), 消除 (xiāochú, ‘to eliminate’), or 存在 (cúnzài, ‘to exist’). While it can describe internal feelings, it emphasizes rational, situation-based concern rather than overwhelming emotion.