Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 臆病者 | okubyōmono | [o̞kɯ̟bʲo̞ːmo̞no̞] (narrow) |
| 怖がり | kowagari | [ko̞β̞a̠ɡa̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 怖がり屋 | kowagariya | |
| 腰抜け | koshinuke | [ko̞ɕinɯ̟ke̞] (narrow) |
| 卑怯者 | hikyōmono | [çikʲo̞ːmo̞no̞] (narrow) |
The term 臆病者 is the most common and neutral way to describe a person who lacks courage. Other variations exist depending on whether you are describing someone who is easily frightened or someone who behaves unfairly.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 臆病者 is composed of 臆 (fear or timidity), 病 (illness or condition) and 者 (person).
Which one should you use?
While 臆病者 refers to someone who is fearful or timid, 卑怯者 refers to a coward in a moral sense, such as someone who plays dirty or acts unfairly. The term 怖がり is a softer, more colloquial way to describe someone who is easily frightened compared to the more formal 臆病者, which implies a stronger character flaw.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix 屋 to 怖がり turns the noun into a label for a person who habitually possesses that trait.
How do you pronounce it?
okubyōmono
Did you know?
- In Japanese, being a 'coward' can be framed as a lack of physical stability. The term 腰抜け suggests that fear physically removes the strength from one's hips and legs.
- The character 臆 in 臆病者 originally referred to the chest or the inner part of the heart, the very place where fear is felt.
- Historically, the concept of 卑怯 was tied to the samurai code, where avoiding a fair fight was considered a deeper moral failure than simply being afraid.
Examples in context
- 臆病者が逃げ出した。The coward ran away.This sentence shows how to use 臆病者 to describe someone running away.Tatoeba #11211872 by ITA, translation #11211641 by CK
- 彼は臆病者にすぎない。He is nothing more than a coward.This sentence uses 臆病者 to emphasize that someone is nothing more than a coward.Tatoeba #109513 by bunbuku, translation #294177 by CK
- 私、卑怯者じゃないもん。I'm not a coward.This sentence demonstrates the use of 卑怯者 when denying being a person who acts unfairly.Tatoeba #9035009 by small_snow, translation #2417725 by AlanF_US
- 彼は臆病者で、いつも困難から逃げようとしています。He is a coward and always tries to run away from difficulties.
- 彼、チキンすぎて全然冒険に参加しなかったよ。He was too much of a coward to join the adventure.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about a character in a movie.
- 健太 Kentaあの主人公は臆病者だね。Ano shujinkou wa okubyoumono dane.That protagonist is a coward, isn't he?
- 陽葵 Himariそう、本当に臆病者だわ。Sou, hontou ni okubyoumono dawa.Yes, he really is a coward.
- 健太 Kentaもっと勇気が必要だよ。Motto yuuki ga hitsuyou dayo.He needs more courage.
- 陽葵 Himari健太君の言う通りね。Kenta-kun no iu toori ne.It's just as you say, Kenta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coward” translations and entries 臆病者, 怖がり, 腰抜け, 卑怯者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
