懦 (nuò) - cowardly & timid

懦Tone 4

nuò ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

柠七

懦 · nuò

cowardly;

timid;

weak-willed;

lacking courage or resolve.

cowardlytimidweak-willed

Usage highlights

cowardly and weaktimid and fearfulcowardweak and incompetentcowardly behaviortimid character

Synonyms

  • 怯— timid; nervous
  • 弱— weak; feeble
  • 胆小— timid; cowardly

Antonyms

  • 勇— brave; courageous
  • 刚— firm; strong
  • 强— strong; powerful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is too cowardly to speak up (懦弱).
  • Don't be so timid in front of challenges (懦怯).
  • A weak-willed person is easily manipulated (懦夫).
  • His cowardly nature prevented him from taking action (懦弱的本性).

Collocations

  • cowardly and weak(懦弱)
  • timid and fearful(懦怯)
  • coward(懦夫)
  • weak and incompetent(懦劣)
  • cowardly behavior(懦行)
  • timid character(懦性)

Idioms

  • A coward who cannot be carved into anything(朽木粪土，懦不可雕)
  • To reproach oneself for being cowardly(自惭形懦)
  • Weak army, cowardly general(兵疲将懦)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally viewed as a negative character trait, opposite of the Confucian ideal of courage (勇).
  • In historical contexts, being labeled 懦夫 (coward) was a serious insult, particularly for men in warrior or leadership roles.
  • The character contains the heart/mind radical (忄), linking cowardice to a state of mind or emotional disposition.

FAQ