noun, na-adjective
timid and evasive; timid and makeshift
Describes a person who is cowardly and resorts to half-hearted, evasive measures, or an approach that is timid and makeshift. Often used critically.
彼の小心姑息な態度には呆れてしまう。
I'm disgusted by his timid and evasive attitude.
そんな小心姑息な手段では問題は解決しない。
Such a timid and makeshift measure won't solve the problem.
Compound of 小心 (しょうしん, 'timid') and 姑息 (こそく, 'makeshift, stopgap').