khiếp nhược

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Cowardly: Exhibiting a complete lack of courage; being easily frightened and unwilling to face danger, difficulty, or pain. It describes a contemptible fearfulness.
    • Craven: Suggests a weak and abject spirit, often implying a failure of moral strength.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:
    • Các anh là những kẻ khiếp nhược. (You are cowards.)
    • Hành động đó thể hiện một tinh thần khiếp nhược. (That action demonstrates a cowardly spirit.)
    • Bọn chúng khiếp nhược trước sức mạnh đoàn kết. (They were cowardly in the face of united strength.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term "khiếp nhược" is strong and condemnatory. It is used to describe a deep-seated, shameful cowardice, often in the context of failing a moral or collective duty, rather than a momentary fear.
  • It can function attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "là" - to be).
Variants and Related Words
  • Nhút nhát (adj): Timid, shy. Less severe than "khiếp nhược," it describes a hesitant nature without the same moral condemnation.
  • Hèn nhát (adj): Cowardly, ignoble. A close synonym, often used interchangeably with "khiếp nhược."
  • Khiếp sợ (v): To be terrified, to fear greatly. This is the verb form focusing on the feeling of extreme fear itself.
Synonyms
  • Cowardly: Lacking courage.
  • Craven: Completely lacking in courage.
  • Timorous: Showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence. (Less severe)
  • Gutless: (Informal) Lacking courage or determination.
Antonyms
  • Dũng cảm (adj): Brave, courageous.
  • Can đảm (adj): Brave, valiant.
  • Anh hùng (adj): Heroic.
Related Idioms
  • While "khiếp nhược" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is central to phrases like:
    • Mặt cắt không còn giọt máu: (Face drained of all blood) To describe someone pale with extreme fear, which could be the visible state of a khiếp nhược person.
    • Run như cầy sấy: (To shake like a sun-dried mongoose) To tremble violently from fear, a possible behavior of someone who is khiếp nhược.
adj
  1. cowardly
    • các anh là những kẻ khiếp nhược
      You are cowards