Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

小心者 (shoushinmono) Japanese meaning: timid person | Kotomora

小しょう心しん者もの

しょ

う

し

ん

も

の

Meanings

1

timid person; coward

Describes a person who is easily frightened, lacks courage, or is overly cautious. Often used in a mildly derogatory or self-deprecating way.

彼かれは小しょう心しん者ものだから、人ひと前まえで話はなす

の

が

苦にが

手て

だ

。

He's a timid person, so he's not good at speaking in front of people.

自じ分ぶんは小しょう心しん者ものだとよく言いわれる。

I'm often told that I'm a coward.

Kanji

小little, small
心heart, mind, spirit
者someone, person

Related words

臆おく病びょう者もの
小心者 describes someone timid and overly cautious in a general sense, while 臆病者 specifically labels someone as a coward, often as an insult.

Built from

小しょう心しん+者もの

Etymology

Compound of 小心 (small heart/mind, meaning timid) + 者 (person). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period.