ためらう

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め

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Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

ためらう · godan verb (-u)

Meanings

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

hesitate; waver; be indecisive

usually written using kana alone

Describes pausing or being unable to decide, often due to doubt, fear, or reluctance. Commonly used with ～のを or before another verb.

〈動どう詞し〉のをためらうto hesitate to do something
彼かれに本ほん当とうのことを言いうのをためらった。
I hesitated to tell him the truth.
少すこしもためらわずに〈動どう詞し〉to do something without any hesitation
彼かれは少すこしもためらわずに答こたえた。
He answered without the slightest hesitation.
一いっ瞬しゅんためらうto hesitate for a moment
彼かの女じょは一いっ瞬しゅんためらったが、すぐにドアを開あけた。
She hesitated for a moment, but then quickly opened the door.
ためらうことなく〈動どう詞し〉to do something without hesitation
彼かれはためらうことなく飛とび込こんだ。
He jumped in without hesitation.

迷まようN3
迷う is broader and often implies being lost or torn between options, while ためらう emphasizes the brief pause of reluctance right before acting.
躊ちゅう躇ちょN1
躊躇 is a formal noun/する-verb typically used in writing, whereas ためらう is the everyday spoken verb expressing the same hesitation.
渋しぶるN1
渋る stresses reluctance or unwillingness to comply despite pressure, while ためらう describes an internal pause of indecision without that resistance.
尻しり込ごみ
尻込みする suggests shrinking back out of fear or timidity, while ためらう is a more neutral term for any moment of indecision.

踏ふみ切きるN1
踏み切る means to make a decisive move or take the plunge, the opposite of the hesitant pause described by ためらう.

Applies to each form listed below

gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

ためらうUsage92%
Standard kana spelling; usually written in kana.
躊躇ためらうUsage8%
Kanji form is rare and literary; the word is usually written in kana.

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 躊躇 are a jukujikun reading applied to the native Japanese verb ためらう.