coward; timid person; scaredy-cat
Describes a person who is easily frightened or lacks courage. Often used in a teasing or self-deprecating way.
My younger brother is a scaredy-cat and can't go into a dark room alone.
I'm a coward, so I never watch horror movies.
怖がり is a milder, more casual word for someone who scares easily, whereas 臆病者 is stronger and often more insulting.
怖がり describes someone who is easily scared by specific things like bugs or ghosts, while 臆病 describes a broader lack of courage or bravery as a personality trait.
Standard kanji spelling using 怖 (fear).
Alternate kanji spelling using 恐 (fear). Less common than 怖がり.
Derived from the adjective 怖い (scary) with the suffix がり, which indicates a tendency or disposition. The exact historical derivation is straightforward.