hesitate, waver, falter
躕 centers on hesitant, unsteady movement: wavering, faltering, or pausing in uncertainty before acting.
躕 combines 足 (foot/leg) with 廚, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to a kitchen or dwelling, but the exact historical development of the compound is uncertain.
The left side 足 suggests feet or movement, while the right side 廚 looks like a complex, enclosed space. Picture someone stepping into a cluttered kitchen and hesitating, unsure where to put their foot next.
For チュウ, imagine a person hesitating at the door of a kitchen, softly saying 'chew' as they think: chew -> チュウ, while their foot 足 wavers.