📖 Meaning
This idiom describes someone who wants to advance but holds back, and wants to speak but falters. It portrays a servile, fawning demeanor marked by timidity and an inability to act or speak with resolve. The phrase is typically used to criticize those who grovel before the powerful without any dignity.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Tang dynasty essay 'Seeing Off Li Yuan's Return to Pan Valley' (送李愿归盘谷序) by the renowned scholar-official Han Yu (韩愈). Han Yu contrasts the life of a hermit with that of sycophants loitering at the gates of the powerful, vividly depicting them with feet wanting to step forward yet hesitating, mouths wanting to speak yet faltering. These toadies endure humiliation without shame and risk execution chasing a slim chance at advancement. Han Yu uses this portrait to question whether such a life is worth living compared to virtuous seclusion.
💡 Example Usage
面对上司质问，他趑趄嗫嚅，半晌说不出话来。
Faced with his boss's questioning, he hesitated and mumbled, unable to get a word out for a long time.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 趑趄嗫嚅
- Pinyin: zī jū niè rú
- Literal Translation: hesitate to advance, murmur to speak
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4