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