臆おく病びょう

お

く

びょ

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

cowardly; timid; easily frightened

Describes a person or their nature as lacking courage, being easily scared, or avoiding risks. Can be used as a noun (cowardice) or na-adjective.

彼かれは臆おく病びょうだから、一人ひとりで夜よ道みちを歩あるけない。
He is so timid that he can't walk alone at night.
臆おく

病びょう

な

犬いぬ

は

大おお

きな

音おと

に

すぐ

驚おどろ

く

。

A cowardly dog is easily startled by loud noises.

Written forms

臆おく病びょうUsage96%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common and recommended form.
おくびょうUsage3%
憶おく病びょうUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 臆病 is strongly preferred.

Kanji

臆timidity, heart, mind
病ill, sick
憶recollection, think, remember

Similar words

小しょう心しん
小心 also means timid, but emphasizes a small-minded or overly cautious personality, often with a nuance of pettiness, while 臆病 focuses on fearfulness and lack of bravery.
弱よわ虫むし
弱虫 is a more colloquial and derogatory term for a weakling or coward, often used in teasing or insults, whereas 臆病 is a neutral descriptor of a fearful disposition.

Etymology

Compound of 臆 (fear, timidity) and 病 (illness, weakness), literally 'fear-illness', suggesting a disposition toward fearfulness. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with cowardice.