The word 胆小 is formed through a vivid conceptual metaphor rooted in traditional Chinese worldview. It directly combines the character for "gallbladder" (胆), which was historically considered the physical seat of courage and decisiveness, with the character for "small" (小). Thus, the term literally paints a picture of a "small gallbladder", creating an immediate, intuitive image that a person with such a trait possesses a diminished capacity for bravery, implying they are easily frightened or timid.