懦

nuò

忄 + 需

Definitions

nuò (bound form) cowardly; faint-hearted

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound.

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 需

About

The character 懦 is a phono-semantic compound with the heart radical ⼼ on the left, indicating it relates to emotions or psychological states. The right side, 需, provides the pronunciation. Together, they convey an internal state of fearfulness or timidity. As an adjective, it describes someone who is cowardly, mentally weak, or easily intimidated by challenges, threats, or difficult situations.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个人很懦弱。

Zhège rén hěn nuòruò.

This person is very cowardly.

不要成为一个懦夫。

Bùyào chéngwéi yīgè nuòfū.

Don't become a coward.

他的懦弱让人失望。

Tā de nuòruò ràng rén shīwàng.

His cowardice makes people disappointed.

面对困难时不能怯懦。

Miànduì kùnnán shí bùnéng qiènuò.

When facing difficulties, one cannot be timid.

如果你懦弱，就会失去机会。

Rúguǒ nǐ nuòruò, jiù huì shīqù jīhuì.

If you are cowardly, you will lose opportunities.

那个懦弱的士兵不敢上前线。

Nàgè nuòruò de shìbīng bù gǎn shàng qiánxiàn.

That cowardly soldier dares not go to the front line.

懦弱的心态阻碍了个人成长。

Nuòruò de xīntài zǔ'àile gèrén chéngzhǎng.

A cowardly mindset hinders personal growth.

尽管他内心懦弱，但表面上却装得很勇敢。

Jǐnguǎn tā nèixīn nuòruò, dàn biǎomiàn shàng què zhuāng dé hěn yǒnggǎn.

Although he is cowardly inside, on the surface he pretends to be very brave.

Related Characters

Component: 忄

Component: 需

懦