nhát gan
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Chicken-hearted, cowardly, timid: Describes a person who is easily frightened, lacks courage, and is afraid to take risks or face difficult situations.
- Faint-hearted: Having a weak or fearful disposition.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh ấy quá nhát gan để thử điều mới. (He is too chicken-hearted to try new things.)
- Đừng nhát gan như vậy, hãy mạnh dạn lên! (Don't be so timid, be more confident!)
- Tính nhát gan khiến cô ấy bỏ lỡ nhiều cơ hội. (Her cowardly nature causes her to miss many opportunities.)
Advanced Usage
- "nhát gan chết khiếp": An intensified phrase meaning "extremely cowardly" or "scared to death."
- Nghe tiếng động lạ, nó nhát gan chết khiếp. (Hearing a strange noise, he was scared to death.)
- "nhát gan như thỏ đế": A simile comparing someone's timidity to a rabbit (a proverbial symbol of fear).
- Cậu ấy nhát gan như thỏ đế, thấy bóng tối là sợ. (He is as timid as a rabbit, afraid of even the dark.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nhút nhát (adj): Shy, bashful. This word focuses more on social shyness rather than a lack of courage in the face of danger.
- Cô bé rất nhút nhát khi gặp người lạ. (The little girl is very shy when meeting strangers.)
- Hèn nhát (adj): Cowardly, base. This is a stronger, more negative term implying moral failing or despicable cowardice.
- Hành động bỏ chạy của hắn thật hèn nhát. (His act of running away was truly cowardly.)
- Sợ sệt (adj): Fearful, apprehensive. Describes a general state of fear.
- Cô ấy có vẻ sợ sệt khi vào phòng tối. (She seemed fearful when entering the dark room.)
Synonyms
- Yếu bóng vía: Literally "weak spirit/soul," meaning easily scared or frightened.
- Bạc nhược: Weak-willed, lacking in strength and courage.
Related Idioms
- "Nhát như cáy": As timid as a crab (that hides in its hole). Used to describe someone who is very easily frightened and quick to hide or retreat.
- Nó nhát như cáy, chẳng dám nói lời nào. (He's as timid as a crab, doesn't dare say a word.)
- "Gan nhỏ bằng hạt tiêu": Literally "a liver as small as a peppercorn," meaning to have very little courage.
- Với cái gan nhỏ bằng hạt tiêu, anh ta chẳng làm được gì. (With a liver as small as a peppercorn, he can't accomplish anything.)
- Chicken-hearted, weak -hearted
- Nhát gan không dám bơi qua sôngTo be too weak-hearted to swim across the river