臆病
okubyō
In Japanese, cowardice is said as 臆病 (okubyō).
臆病 refers to the lack of courage. It is also frequently used to describe a personality trait of being 'timid' or 'shy'.
Meaning: the lack of courage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 臆病 can mean 'cowardice', it is also frequently used to describe a personality trait of being 'timid' or 'shy'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify this word to change its grammatical function. Adding the suffix 者 to 臆病 creates the noun 臆病者, which means 'a coward'. To use the word as an adjective meaning 'cowardly', add な to the end to form 臆病な.
How do you pronounce it?
okubyō
When do people say it?
If you want to mock or tease someone for being a coward, you can use the slang term ヘタレ.
Did you know?
- Japanese distinguishes between 臆病 (timidity) and 卑怯 (cowardice in the sense of being unfair or underhanded). A person can be 臆病 without being 卑怯.
- While 臆病 describes a general trait, Japanese has a specific word 腰抜け which literally means 'waist-loose'. It refers to a coward whose legs give out from fear.
- The slang term ヘタレ is derived from the verb へたれる, which means 'to sag' or 'to wilt' like a dying plant. It captures the image of someone whose spirit has gone limp.
Examples in context
- 彼は臆病で、新しいことにチャレンジする勇気がありません。He is a coward and lacks the courage to try new things.
- 彼は弱気な性格で、困難な状況から逃げようとします。He has a cowardly personality and tends to escape from difficult situations.
- 彼は弱虫で、いつも難しいことから逃げてばかりです。He is a coward and always runs away from difficult things.
- あいつは本当にヘタレだよ！逃げ腰で何事にも挑戦しないんだ。He's such a coward! He never challenges anything and always runs away.
- この土地ではビビりと呼ばれるほど、怖がりな性格です。They have such a cowardly personality that they're called "Bibiri" around here.
- 彼の臆病が原因で、計画が失敗した。Kare no okubyou ga gen'in de, keikaku ga shippai shita.His cowardice caused the plan to fail.
- 臆病は、時には自分を守ることになる。Okubyou wa, tokini wa jibun o mamoru koto ni naru.Cowardice can sometimes be a way to protect oneself.
- 戦場で臆病を見せることは許されない。Senjou de okubyou o miseru koto wa yurusarenai.Showing cowardice on the battlefield is not allowed.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are discussing a character in a movie.
- 蓮 Renあの主人公の臆病さが、見ていて辛かったよ。Ano shujinkou no okubyousa ga, mite ite tsurakatta yo.The cowardice of that protagonist was hard to watch.
- 結衣 Yui確かに、もっと勇気が必要だったね。Tashika ni, motto yuuki ga hitsuyou datta ne.True, he definitely needed more courage.
- 蓮 Ren結衣は、あんな風に逃げられると思う？Yui wa, anna fuu ni nigerareru to omou?Do you think you could run away like that, Yui?
- 結衣 Yui私なら、もう少しは戦うと思う。Watashi nara, mou sukoshi wa tatakau to omou.If it were me, I think I would fight a little more.
