na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
very timid; faint-hearted; nervous
Describes a person who is extremely cautious, easily frightened, or lacking in boldness. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
He was very timid and opposed the new proposal.
小心翼翼たる態度では、リーダーにはなれない。
With such a faint-hearted attitude, you cannot become a leader.
Standard kanji spelling for this yojijukugo.
Variant spelling using 翼々 instead of 翼翼; both are used.
A yojijukugo derived from classical Chinese, combining 小心 (small heart/mind, i.e., timid) and 翼翼 (careful, cautious). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used in Japanese literary contexts to describe extreme timidity.