yōuróuguǎduàn: 优柔寡断 - Indecisive, Irresolute, Wishy-washy

• Keywords: yōuróuguǎduàn, 优柔寡断, Chinese indecisive, irresolute, wishy-washy, Chinese personality traits, Chinese idiom for indecisiveness, how to say indecisive in Chinese, hesitating in Chinese, lack of resolve.
• Summary: Learn the Chinese idiom 优柔寡断 (yōuróuguǎduàn), which describes the negative personality trait of being indecisive, irresolute, and wishy-washy. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural meaning, and practical usage with example sentences, helping you understand why this term is more than just “hesitating” and reflects a cultural critique of weakness in decision-making.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yōu róu guǎ duàn
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Chengyu (Idiom)
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be chronically indecisive, hesitant, and unable to make a firm decision.
• In a Nutshell: 优柔寡断 paints a picture of someone who is “soft” and “lacking in judgment.” It's not just about taking time to think; it's a criticism of a character flaw. Someone who is 优柔寡断 dithers endlessly, weighs options without conclusion, and ultimately fails to act when action is needed. It carries a strong negative connotation of weakness and ineffectiveness.

• 优 (yōu): While often meaning “excellent” or “superior,” in this context it means gentle or ample.
• 柔 (róu): Means “soft,” “supple,” or “gentle.”
• 寡 (guǎ): Means “few,” “little,” or “lacking.”
• 断 (duàn): Means “to break,” “to cut off,” and by extension, “to decide” or “to make a judgment.”

Combined, 优柔 (yōu róu) means overly gentle or soft, while 寡断 (guǎ duàn) means “lacking in decisiveness.” The entire idiom literally translates to “gentle and soft, lacking in decisiveness,” vividly describing a person whose gentle nature prevents them from making a sharp, clear-cut decision.

In Chinese culture, decisiveness (果断 - guǒduàn) is a highly valued trait, especially in leaders, parents, and figures of authority. The ability to make a swift, firm decision is seen as a sign of strength, intelligence, and reliability. 优柔寡断, therefore, is a significant character flaw. It implies a lack of inner strength and an inability to take responsibility. While Western culture also views indecisiveness negatively, comparing it to “analysis paralysis,” 优柔寡断 is less about being overwhelmed by information and more about a fundamental weakness of will. Someone described this way is not just stuck; they are seen as fundamentally unfit for leadership or high-stakes situations. This reflects a cultural preference for clear, hierarchical action over prolonged, ambiguous deliberation in many traditional contexts.

This idiom is widely used and understood in both formal and informal contexts. It's a common way to criticize a person's character or their handling of a specific situation.

• In the Workplace: You might hear an employee privately complain that their manager is 优柔寡断 and can't make a decision about a project, causing delays for the whole team.
• In Personal Relationships: Someone might complain that their partner is 优柔寡断 about major life choices, like getting married or moving to a new city.
• In Media and Politics: Pundits and commentators often use this term to criticize politicians or governments for failing to act decisively on important issues.

It's almost always negative and is not a term you would use to describe yourself unless you are being highly self-critical.

• Example 1:
  • 他这个人做事总是优柔寡断，一点儿都不果断。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhège rén zuòshì zǒngshì yōuróuguǎduàn, yīdiǎnr dōu bù guǒduàn.
  • English: He is always so indecisive when doing things, not at all resolute.
  • Analysis: A straightforward character description, directly contrasting 优柔寡断 with its antonym, 果断 (guǒduàn).
• Example 2:
  • 在这个关键时刻，我们最需要的是一个果敢的领导，而不是一个优柔寡断的管理者。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège guānjiàn shíkè, wǒmen zuì xūyào de shì yīgè guǒgǎn de lǐngdǎo, ér bùshì yīgè yōuróuguǎduàn de guǎnlǐzhě.
  • English: At this critical moment, what we need most is a bold and decisive leader, not an irresolute manager.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the negative implications of this trait in a leadership context.
• Example 3:
  • 面对两个工作机会，她变得优柔寡断起来，不知道该选哪个。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì liǎng gè gōngzuò jīhuì, tā biànde yōuróuguǎduàn qǐlái, bù zhīdào gāi xuǎn nǎge.
  • English: Faced with two job opportunities, she became indecisive, not knowing which one to choose.
  • Analysis: Shows how a situation can cause someone to become 优柔寡断. The phrase “变得…起来” (biànde…qǐlái) indicates a change of state.
• Example 4:
  • 他的优柔寡断的性格让他错过了很多好机会。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yōuróuguǎduàn de xìnggé ràng tā cuòguòle hěnduō hǎo jīhuì.
  • English: His indecisive personality has caused him to miss many good opportunities.
  • Analysis: Here, 优柔寡断 functions as an adjective modifying “personality” (性格, xìnggé).
• Example 5:
  • 你必须改掉你优柔寡断的毛病！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū gǎi diào nǐ yōuróuguǎduàn de máobìng!
  • English: You must get rid of your bad habit of being indecisive!
  • Analysis: A direct and strong piece of advice. 毛病 (máobìng) means “fault” or “bad habit,” reinforcing the negativity.
• Example 6:
  • 政府在处理这个问题上显得优柔寡断，引起了民众的不满。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zài chǔlǐ zhège wèntí shàng xiǎnde yōuróuguǎduàn, yǐnqǐle mínzhòng de bùmǎn.
  • English: The government appeared irresolute in handling this issue, which caused public dissatisfaction.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the term's use in a formal, political context.
• Example 7:
  • 别再优柔寡断了，快做决定吧！
  • Pinyin: Bié zài yōuróuguǎduàn le, kuài zuò juédìng ba!
  • English: Stop being so wishy-washy and make a decision already!
  • Analysis: A common, informal command used to urge someone to act.
• Example 8:
  • 我承认，在感情问题上我有时候会很优柔寡断。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn, zài gǎnqíng wèntí shàng wǒ yǒushíhou huì hěn yōuróuguǎduàn.
  • English: I admit, when it comes to matters of the heart, I can sometimes be very indecisive.
  • Analysis: An example of using the term for self-criticism.
• Example 9:
  • 当断不断，反受其乱。你这样优柔寡断是解决不了问题的。
  • Pinyin: Dāng duàn bù duàn, fǎn shòu qí luàn. Nǐ zhèyàng yōuróuguǎduàn shì jiějué bùliǎo wèntí de.
  • English: “When a decision must be made but isn't, you will suffer from the chaos.” Being indecisive like this won't solve any problems.
  • Analysis: This sentence pairs the idiom with a related classical saying, emphasizing the negative consequences of indecision.
• Example 10:
  • 他的计划听起来不错，但执行起来却优柔寡断，迟迟没有进展。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jìhuà tīng qǐlái bùcuò, dàn zhíxíng qǐlái què yōuróuguǎduàn, chíchí méiyǒu jìnzhǎn.
  • English: His plan sounded good, but when it came to execution, he was irresolute, and there was no progress for a long time.
  • Analysis: Contrasts a good plan with poor, indecisive execution.

• Don't confuse with “thoughtful”: A common mistake for learners is to confuse 优柔寡断 with being careful or thoughtful. The Chinese term for being thoughtful and considering all angles is 深思熟虑 (shēnsīshúlǜ), which is a positive trait. 优柔寡断 is the negative outcome where thought leads to inaction and paralysis.
  • Correct: 他做事深思熟虑，所以很成功。(He is thoughtful in his work, so he's very successful.)
  • Incorrect: 他做事优柔寡断，所以很成功。 (This is contradictory. His indecisiveness would not lead to success.)
• It's a strong criticism: In English, calling someone “a bit indecisive” can be a mild observation. In Chinese, calling them 优柔寡断 is a much stronger judgment on their character, implying they are weak, ineffective, and unreliable.

• Antonyms (Decisive):
  • 果断 (guǒduàn) - Resolute, decisive. The most direct antonym.
  • 当机立断 (dāngjīlìduàn) - To make a prompt decision at the opportune moment.
  • 斩钉截铁 (zhǎndīngjiétiě) - Resolute and decisive (lit. “to chop a nail and slice iron”).
• Synonyms / Similar Concepts (Indecisive):
  • 犹豫不决 (yóuyùbùjué) - To hesitate and be unable to decide. Very similar in meaning and also very common.
  • 举棋不定 (jǔqíbùdìng) - To be unable to decide which move to make (lit. “to hold a chess piece and not be able to place it”). A more literary way to express indecision.
  • 瞻前顾后 (zhānqiángùhòu) - To look ahead and behind; to be overcautious and full of misgivings. Describes the mindset that leads to indecision.
  • 拖泥带水 (tuōnídàishuǐ) - Messy, sloppy, not crisp (lit. “to drag mud and carry water”). Can describe an indecisive way of speaking or acting.