Chinese idiom · 成语
优柔寡断
Meaning
Indecisive and hesitant; unable to make up one's mind.
Character by character
Origin and story
Philosophical expressionAn early source for this expression's criticism of indecision is the Han Feizi, in the chapter Wang Zheng, which lists conditions that can bring a state to ruin. One warning concerns a ruler who delays without accomplishing anything, yields weakly, cannot decide what to approve or reject, and establishes no firm course.
The passage uses the earlier wording 柔茹而寡断 rather than the complete modern idiom. Later literature supplies the familiar four-character form. The central fault is inability to settle on a decision when one is needed; it is not gentleness, kindness, or the sensible practice of considering evidence before acting.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
搬家的日期已经讨论了三次，他还是优柔寡断，迟迟订不下来。
We have discussed the moving date three times, but he is still indecisive and cannot settle on one.
Critical: someone keeps hesitating instead of reaching a needed decision.