Definition

1. Adverb/Adjective:
   • Stooping timidly, cringing: Describes a posture or manner of shrinking back, bowing, or hunching slightly due to shyness, timidity, reverence, or fear. It implies a physical manifestation of feeling inferior, awed, or intimidated.
   • Bashfully, demurely: Conveys a sense of reserved, shy, or modest behavior, often with a slight bowing or lowering of the head and body.

Usage Examples

• Adverb/Adjective:
  • Cô bé đứng khép nép sau lưng mẹ. (The little girl stood cringing behind her mother.)
  • Anh ấy bước vào phòng với vẻ mặt khép nép. (He entered the room with a timid, stooping demeanor.)
  • Các học sinh khép nép chào thầy giáo. (The students greeted their teacher demurely.)

Advanced Usage

• "vẻ khép nép": a timid/cringing appearance.

  • Cô ấy có vẻ khép nép khi gặp người lạ. (She has a timid, cringing appearance when meeting strangers.)

• "thái độ khép nép": a cringing/demure attitude.

  • Thái độ khép nép của anh ta không phù hợp trong cuộc họp quan trọng này. (His cringing attitude is not suitable for this important meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rụt rè (adj): shy, timid, hesitant. (A close synonym focusing more on the psychological hesitation rather than the physical posture.)
• E lệ (adj): shy, bashful. (Often used to describe a maidenly or delicate shyness.)
• Khúm núm (adj): obsequious, servile, cringing. (Implies a stronger, often excessive and ingratiating, degree of bowing or servility, usually towards authority.)

Synonyms

• Timidly: in a shy or nervous manner.
• Demurely: in a reserved, modest, and shy way.
• Cringingly: in a servile or fearful manner.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Khép nép như chim sẻ: as timid as a sparrow (a simile emphasizing extreme timidity).
  • Đứa trẻ mới đến lớp, khép nép như chim sẻ. (The new child in class was as timid as a sparrow.)

1. Stooping timidly, cringing
   • Đừng khép nép
     To stoop out of timidity, to cringe