胆怯

膽怯

dǎnqiè

adjective HSK 7-9 #13,286

Meanings

1 timid
2 cowardly

Characters

gallbladder; courage

timid; cowardly

Examples

她第一次上台演讲时感到非常胆怯。

Tā dìyī cì shàngtái yǎnjiǎng shí gǎndào fēicháng dǎnqiè.

She felt very timid when she went on stage to give a speech for the first time.

不要胆怯，大胆地说出你的想法。

Bùyào dǎnqiè, dàdǎn de shuō chū nǐ de xiǎngfǎ.

Don't be timid — boldly speak your mind.

Tips

memory

胆 (gallbladder/courage) + 怯 (timid). In Chinese, the gallbladder is associated with bravery — 胆大 means bold, 胆小 means timid. 胆怯 literally means 'courage is weak.'

Stroke Order

胆 dǎn

怯 qiè