葸 (xǐ) - Fearful, timid & hesitant, overcautious

葸Tone 3

xǐ ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

葸 · xǐ

Fearful, timid;

hesitant, overcautious;

to be afraid.

Fearful, timidhesitant, overcautiousto be afraid.

Usage highlights

Fearful and hesitantTimid and overcautiousFearful expressionHesitant and afraidTimid natureFearful and shrinking

Synonyms

  • 畏— to fear, to dread
  • 惧— to fear, to be afraid
  • 怕— to fear, to be scared

Antonyms

  • 勇— brave, courageous
  • 敢— daring, bold

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was too timid to speak up (畏葸不前).
  • Her overcautious nature held her back (胆葸).
  • The fearful expression on his face was obvious (面有葸色).

Collocations

  • Fearful and hesitant(畏葸)
  • Timid and overcautious(胆葸)
  • Fearful expression(葸色)
  • Hesitant and afraid(葸惧)
  • Timid nature(葸性)
  • Fearful and shrinking(葸缩)

Idioms

  • Too timid to advance(畏葸不前)
  • Fearful expression and shrinking heart(面有葸色，心有葸缩)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese, 葸 describes a psychological state of excessive fear or timidity.
  • Often used in literary contexts to criticize lack of courage or decisive action.
  • The character appears in classical texts like The Analects of Confucius discussing moral courage.

FAQ