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二の足を踏む (にのあしをふむ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-mu)
hesitate ; think twice ; get cold feet
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to hesitate or be unable to take the next step, often due to anxiety or doubt. The image is of being stuck on one's second step, unable to move forward.
He's thinking twice about whether to apply for the new job.
Kanji 二 two, two radical (no. 7) 足 leg, foot, be sufficient 踏 step, trample, carry through Similar words ためらう A general verb for hesitating. 二の足を踏む is more idiomatic and emphasizes being stuck at the point of action, often with a nuance of fear or reluctance.
尻しり 込ご みする Means to shrink back or flinch from doing something. 二の足を踏む focuses on the hesitation itself, while 尻込みする implies a stronger physical or emotional recoil.
Etymology The expression literally means 'to step on one's second foot.' It comes from the image of being unable to take the second step forward, thus hesitating. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a well-established idiom.
