word search: voluntary pause between desire and action Some years ago, I read that Japanese has a word (or idiomatic expression) that means roughly: The action of voluntary interposing a pause between the moment you desire something and the moment you start to do something to acquire it. I was never able to find it again. Does it really exist? If yes, what is it? Is it some jargon word (e.g. religion, philosophy)? * * * As @Sawa suggested, I'll try to better define my request. Imagine this sequence: 1. I see a beautiful thing in a shop window. 2. I desire it. 3. I decide to sit down and wait. 4. After some minute, I get up and, in case, I go inside the shop to buy the thing. I am searching for a word that describe the 3rd step of this sequence.

In this case, I would suggest the idea of _tachidomaru - coming to a stand still._ )

I've seen this used by people when they are describing someone who is stopping to think about something; not yet acting (other than stopping whatever action they had been doing beforehand.) It conveys a sense of stopping everything to ponder about the next action one is to take. _Potentially for the sake of making a life changing decision._

Here is an example of this phrase in one type of context.