Meanings of 懦
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About 懦
Podcast: 懦
Podcast: 懦
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AI Study Notes for 懦
懦 (nuò) vs 胆小 (dǎn xiǎo) — use 懦 when emphasizing a broader sense of cowardice or lack of courage, while 胆小 specifically refers to being timid or fearful in specific situations.
Be cautious not to confuse 懦 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can also appear in literature to describe characters. Common collocations include 懦弱 (nuòruò) meaning 'weak and timid.'
Although 懦 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo, timid) and 怯懦 (qiènùo, cowardly). Students should focus on the emotional implications of words, as understanding nuance is key at this level.
Learners often mix up 懦 with 忍 (rěn), which means to endure. For example, saying '他是个忍的人' (tā shì gè rěn de rén) is incorrect; it should be '他是个懦的人' (tā shì gè nuò de rén) to convey cowardice.
Pronunciation of 懦
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Etymology of 懦
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 懦
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half需 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayheart
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 懦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 懦
Identify the Components
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How to say weak, timid, cowardly in Chinese
“weak, timid, cowardly” in Chinese is懦
The character 懦 (nuò) conveys a sense of weakness or timidity, often used to describe someone who is cowardly or lacks courage. In various contexts, it can also imply a lack of decisiveness or mental strength, commonly seen in discussions about personal traits or behaviors.
When to use 懦
Be cautious not to confuse 懦 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can also appear in literature to describe characters. Common collocations include 懦弱 (nuòruò) meaning 'weak and timid.'
懦 or something close to it
懦 (nuò) vs 胆小 (dǎn xiǎo) — use 懦 when emphasizing a broader sense of cowardice or lack of courage, while 胆小 specifically refers to being timid or fearful in specific situations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 懦 with 忍 (rěn), which means to endure. For example, saying '他是个忍的人' (tā shì gè rěn de rén) is incorrect; it should be '他是个懦的人' (tā shì gè nuò de rén) to convey cowardice.
Write 懦
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Practice writing 懦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 懦
懦 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
马克非常直率而严肃地说：“你是个____夫。”
"You're a coward," Mark said very plainly and soberly.
Example Sentences for 懦 (3)
Word Family of 懦
Compound Meaning
What does 懦夫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 懦
The pinyin for 懦 is 'nuò', with a falling tone, similar to the sound of 'no' in English.
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