<p>The three terms seem similar, they are mostly different in etymology and minor details in usage.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>迟= late, slow to; 疑= suspect, uncertain</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/7486/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">迟疑</a> <em>to hesitate</em> </p>
  
  <p>Hesitate to act because one feels uncertain of the consequence</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Mainly used to describe hesitancy in '<strong>action</strong>'. It can be for a brief moment. For example: 动作迟疑 (hesitant movement); or it can be delay of action for indefinite time period. For example: 迟疑不发 (hesitating, holding off action)</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>犹= as if; 豫= happy and content</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/5424/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">犹豫</a> <em>to hesitate</em></p>
  
  <p>Hesitate to act (as if content of the the current situation)</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Mainly used to describe hesitancy in a '<strong>mindset</strong>' For example: 心里犹豫 (cannot decide); <a href="http://www.zdic.net/c/9/172/387091.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">猶豫不決</a> (hesitant; indecisive)</p></li>
  <li><p>It can also describe an '<strong>appearance</strong>' of hesitancy. For example: 一脸猶豫 (hesitant look); </p></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>踌= (1) hesitant; shilly-shally (2) complacent; self-satisfied</p>
  
  <p>躇= hesitant; undecided</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/7493/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">踌躇</a> <em>hesitant; wavering; undecided</em> </p>
  
  <p>Hesitate to act (out of uncertain feeling or complacency, afraid of the action might bring change to the current situation)</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Mainly used to describe hesitancy in a '<strong>mindset</strong>'. For example: 心里躊躇 (wavering heart); </p></li>
  <li><p><a href="https://tw.18dao.net/%E6%88%90%E8%AA%9E%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%BA%8A%E8%BA%87%E6%BB%BF%E5%BF%97" rel="nofollow noreferrer">躊躇滿志</a> <em>【釋義】：躊躇：從容自得的樣子；滿：滿足；志：志願。形容對自己取得的成就非常得意。</em></p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><em>(躊躇: leisurely, contented; 滿: Satisfied ;志; goal. 躊躇滿志 describes the proud feeling of one's achievements)</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T21:32:02.617Z
2017-08-03T21:59:19.093Z
2017-08-03T21:59:19.093Z
Tang Ho
<p>迟疑 you got one option or idea,but you are not sure about it,so you can not decide it very quick.
犹豫 you got several options or ideas,but you dont know which one is the best or the right,so you think and think and again,still can not make decision.
踌躇 has the same meaning with 犹豫,but more formal</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T21:26:49.977Z
2017-08-03T21:26:49.977Z
J.Wang
<p>同为动词。指拿不定主意。 </p>

<p>　迟疑：从时间角度说，是指在应该拿定主意的时候拿不定主意。 It focus more on time.</p>

<p>　踌躇：着重指行动，是在具体行动上拿不定主意。多用于书面语体。 It's more formal.</p>

<p>　犹豫：泛指拿不定主意，多指内心活动，也指行动，书面语体和口头语体都常用。 You can use this any where.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T22:46:26.407Z
coincides with comment #1, first online link bottom 3 lines
(with addition of some E translation)
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-04T00:39:10.930Z
Yes I copied the content here. Also added comments
An Chin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T20:54:02.187Z
2017-08-03T20:54:02.187Z
An Chin
<p>Found some explanation online but it's not too clear</p>

<p>1.迟疑：需要考虑，迟疑不决；他迟疑片刻，才接着说下去。</p>

<p>2.犹豫：拿不定主意；犹豫不定</p>

<p>3、踌躇：犹豫不决,不确定的.</p>

<p>Need to think / can't decide on plan / indecisive or unsure </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T19:08:39.760Z
see bkrs, jukuu: 100 samples for each, LINE Dictionary:踌躇:129,犹豫:682,迟疑:204, www search with "踌躇  犹豫 迟疑  有什么区别" ->迟疑和犹豫，踌躇的区别  http://dayi.jd100.com/question/863220/   https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/544562734.html :踟蹰和踌躇有什么区别？？
user6065
<meaning><difference>
What is the difference between 迟疑 犹豫 and 踌躇?
# What is the difference between 迟疑 犹豫 and 踌躇?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-03)

Found some explanation online but it's not too clear

1.迟疑：需要考虑，迟疑不决；他迟疑片刻，才接着说下去。

2.犹豫：拿不定主意；犹豫不定

3、踌躇：犹豫不决,不确定的.

Need to think / can't decide on plan / indecisive or unsure

**Tags:** meaning, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: see bkrs, jukuu: 100 samples for each, LINE Dictionary:踌躇:129,犹豫:682,迟疑:204, www search with "踌躇  犹豫 迟疑  有什么区别" ->迟疑和犹豫，踌躇的区别  http://dayi.jd100.com/question/863220/   https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/544562734.html :踟蹰和踌躇有什么区别？？  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-03. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The three terms seem similar, they are mostly different in etymology and minor details in usage.

> 迟= late, slow to; 疑= suspect, uncertain
>
> [迟疑](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/7486/) *to hesitate*
>
> Hesitate to act because one feels uncertain of the consequence
>
> * Mainly used to describe hesitancy in '**action**'. It can be for a brief moment. For example: 动作迟疑 (hesitant movement); or it can be delay of action for indefinite time period. For example: 迟疑不发 (hesitating, holding off action)

~

> 犹= as if; 豫= happy and content
>
> [犹豫](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/5424/) *to hesitate*
>
> Hesitate to act (as if content of the the current situation)
>
> * Mainly used to describe hesitancy in a '**mindset**' For example: 心里犹豫 (cannot decide); [猶豫不決](http://www.zdic.net/c/9/172/387091.htm) (hesitant; indecisive)
> * It can also describe an '**appearance**' of hesitancy. For example: 一脸猶豫 (hesitant look);

~

> 踌= (1) hesitant; shilly-shally (2) complacent; self-satisfied
>
> 躇= hesitant; undecided
>
> [踌躇](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/7493/) *hesitant; wavering; undecided*
>
> Hesitate to act (out of uncertain feeling or complacency, afraid of the action might bring change to the current situation)
>
> * Mainly used to describe hesitancy in a '**mindset**'. For example: 心里躊躇 (wavering heart);
> * [躊躇滿志](https://tw.18dao.net/%E6%88%90%E8%AA%9E%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%BA%8A%E8%BA%87%E6%BB%BF%E5%BF%97) *【釋義】：躊躇：從容自得的樣子；滿：滿足；志：志願。形容對自己取得的成就非常得意。*
>
> *(躊躇: leisurely, contented; 滿: Satisfied ;志; goal. 躊躇滿志 describes the proud feeling of one's achievements)*


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-08-03. Score: 0

迟疑 you got one option or idea,but you are not sure about it,so you can not decide it very quick.
犹豫 you got several options or ideas,but you dont know which one is the best or the right,so you think and think and again,still can not make decision.
踌躇 has the same meaning with 犹豫,but more formal


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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-08-03. Score: 0

同为动词。指拿不定主意。

　迟疑：从时间角度说，是指在应该拿定主意的时候拿不定主意。 It focus more on time.

　踌躇：着重指行动，是在具体行动上拿不定主意。多用于书面语体。 It's more formal.

　犹豫：泛指拿不定主意，多指内心活动，也指行动，书面语体和口头语体都常用。 You can use this any where.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: coincides with comment #1, first online link bottom 3 lines (with addition of some E translation)  
> **username_4**: Yes I copied the content here. Also added comments  

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