noun
Refers to a person who lacks courage or is afraid to face danger or difficulty. Often used as an insult.
彼は卑怯者だから、一人で暗い道を歩けない。
He's a coward, so he can't walk down a dark street alone.
noun
sneaky person; underhanded person; dastardly person
Describes someone who uses unfair, deceitful, or dishonorable methods. Implies a lack of integrity rather than just fear.
あんな卑怯者と取引するな。
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.