Refers to a person who lacks courage or is afraid to face danger or difficulty. Often used as an insult.
He's a coward, so he can't walk down a dark street alone.
sneaky person; underhanded person; dastardly person
Describes someone who uses unfair, deceitful, or dishonorable methods. Implies a lack of integrity rather than just fear.
Don't do business with such an underhanded person.
Also means 'coward', but focuses purely on fearfulness and timidity, without the nuance of unfairness or sneakiness that 卑怯者 can carry.
Compound of 卑怯 (ひきょう, 'cowardice' or 'unfairness') and 者 (もの, 'person'). The exact historical derivation of 卑怯 is uncertain, but the kanji 卑 ('lowly') and 怯 ('cowardice') are conventionally associated with the meaning.