Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Cowardly; lacking courage: Describes a person or action that shows a shameful lack of bravery, often driven by fear.
   • Dastardly; mean-spirited and cowardly: Suggests not only cowardice but also a despicable or treacherous nature.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hành động đó thật hèn nhát. (That action is truly cowardly.)
  • Nó là một kẻ hèn nhát, không dám đối mặt với sự thật. (He is a cowardly person, not daring to face the truth.)
  • Sự phản bội hèn nhát của hắn khiến mọi người phẫn nộ. (His dastardly betrayal made everyone furious.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe not only people but also abstract concepts like actions, decisions, or attitudes that are morally weak and avoid difficulty or danger.
  • Một quyết định hèn nhát nhằm trốn tránh trách nhiệm. (A cowardly decision to evade responsibility.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhát gan (adj): Timid, easily frightened (often less morally charged than "hèn nhát").
  • Đừng nhát gan như thế. (Don't be so timid.)
• Hèn mọn (adj): Mean, petty, base (emphasizes low moral character, not necessarily cowardice).
  • Tính cách hèn mọn. (A mean character.)

Synonyms

• Cowardly: Lacking courage.
• Craven: Completely lacking in courage.
• Dastardly: Wicked and cowardly.
• Timorous: Showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence (less severe).

Antonyms

• Dũng cảm (adj): Brave, courageous.
• Can đảm (adj): Brave, valiant.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hèn nhát như thỏ đế: As cowardly as a rabbit (a common simile emphasizing extreme timidity).
  • Hắn ta hèn nhát như thỏ đế. (He is as cowardly as a rabbit.)
• Mặt hèn nhát: A cowardly face/expression.
  • Nó nhìn với mặt hèn nhát. (He looked with a cowardly expression.)

adj

1. cowardly; dastardly
   • kẻ hèn nhát
     A coward; a dastard