徊

huái
回 + 彳

Definitions

huái (verb) to hesitate; to pace back and forth

Etymology

To pace 彳 back and forth 回; 回 also provides the pronunciation

About

The character 徊 is a phono-semantic compound describing a specific repetitive motion. Its left side features the semantic radical 彳, representing small steps or walking, which places it within the category of movement. The right side contains the component 回, meaning "to return" or "to go in circles", which provides the phonetic element and reinforces the semantic sense of a looping trajectory. Its primary definition is the physical act of pacing back and forth or walking in circles without advancing. This literal image of hesitant, circular movement is often extended metaphorically in compound words to describe mental indecision or emotional hesitation.

Example Sentences Hide

他在公园里徘徊。

Tā zài gōngyuán lǐ páihuái.

He is pacing back and forth in the park.

她在门口徘徊了很久。

Tā zài ménkǒu páihuái le hěn jiǔ.

She lingered at the door for a long time.

他徘徊在十字路口，不知该往哪走。

Tā páihuái zài shízì lùkǒu, bù zhī gāi wǎng nǎ zǒu.

He lingered at the crossroads, not knowing which way to go.

我经常在决策前徘徊不定。

Wǒ jīngcháng zài juécè qián páihuái bù dìng.

I often hesitate before making decisions.

他在房间里徘徊，思考着问题。

Tā zài fángjiān lǐ páihuái, sīkǎo zhe wèntí.

He paced around the room, thinking about the problem.

迷茫的时候，我总在人生道路上徘徊。

Mímáng de shíhou, wǒ zǒng zài rénshēng dàolù shàng páihuái.

When confused, I always linger on the path of life.

尽管时间紧迫，他仍在办公室外徘徊，不敢进去。

Jǐnguǎn shíjiān jǐnpò, tā réng zài bàngōngshì wài páihuái, bù gǎn jìnqù.

Although time was tight, he still lingered outside the office, not daring to enter.

在重要的选择面前，许多人都会徘徊犹豫，这是正常的。

Zài zhòngyào de xuǎnzé miànqián, xǔduō rén dōu huì páihuái yóuyù, zhè shì zhèngcháng de.

In the face of important choices, many people will hesitate and waver, which is normal.

Related Characters

Component: 回

啬 蛔 洄 茴 迴 靣 穯 㐭 佪 啚 嗇 廻 恛 痐

Component: 彳

得 行 很 德 往 律 微 待 征 徒 街 彻 役 彼

Example Words

徘徊