怯
cowardice, wince, flinch, hesitate, waver
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- ひる.む
- おびえ.る
- おじる
- おび.える
- おそ.れる
Meaning
怯 centers on a fearful, hesitant reaction: cowardice, flinching, wincing, or wavering in the face of something intimidating.
Most common words using 怯
- 卑怯ひきょうN2
cowardly; craven
- 怯えおびえ
being startled, surprised or afraid; panic; trepidation
- 怯えるおびえるN1
to become frightened; to be frightened (of); to be scared (of)
- 怯むひるむN1
to falter; to flinch (from); to recoil (from); to quail (at); to be intimidated; to feel daunted; to be discouraged; to hesitate
- 卑怯な手を使うひきょうなてをつかう
to play a dirty trick; to use underhanded methods; to hit below the belt; to play foul
- 卑怯千万ひきょうせんばん
very mean (sneaky); extremely unsportsmanlike
- 卑怯者ひきょうもの
coward; chicken; yellow-belly
- 怯夫きょうふ
coward; timid man
- 怯弱きょうじゃく
coward
- 怯懦きょうだ
cowardly; spineless; weak-willed; fainthearted
Study
Etymology
怯 combines 忄 (heart/mind) with 去 (go away), suggesting a heart that wants to retreat from fear. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure is plausible.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart 忄 wants to go away 去: when you're scared, your heart flinches and you hesitate.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine a cowardly character named Kyo who always flinches and wavers: Kyo -> キョウ, and his heart 忄 wants to run away 去.