臆おく病びょう

お

く

びょ

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

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.

See all 32 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は〈事こと〉に臆おく病びょうだsomeone is timid/fearful about something
彼かれは初しょ対たい面めんの人ひとと話はなすことに臆おく病びょうだ。
He's timid about talking to people he meets for the first time.
臆おく病びょうな性せい格かくa cowardly/timid personality
彼かの女じょは臆おく病びょうな性せい格かくで、新あたらしいことになかなか挑ちょう戦せんできない。
She has a timid personality and finds it hard to try new things.
〈人ひと〉が臆おく病びょうになるfor someone to become timid/cowardly
一いち度ど失しっ敗ぱいすると、人ひとは臆おく病びょうになりやすい。
Once you fail once, you tend to become timid.

Expressions

臆おく病びょう風かぜに吹ふかれるget cold feet; chicken out; lose one's nerve

Kanji

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

Related words· 6

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N1
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.
気き弱よわ
気弱 describes someone who is weak-willed or lacks resolve in general situations, while 臆病 specifically describes fearfulness and cowardice in the face of danger or risk.
怖こわがり
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.

Show 2 more

卑ひ怯きょうN2
臆病 describes a timid personality trait of being easily frightened, while 卑怯 implies a moral failing tied to cowardly or unfair behavior.
気きが小ちいさいN2
臆病 is a more formal, direct term for cowardice, while 気が小さい is a softer, more colloquial way to describe timidity.

Opposites

勇ゆう敢かんN1
勇敢 means brave and courageous, the direct opposite of 臆病 which means cowardly and timid.
大だい胆たんN2
大胆 means bold and daring, contrasting with 臆病 which describes a timid, cowardly reluctance to take risks.
度ど胸きょう
臆病 describes timidity or cowardice, the opposite of the bold nerve expressed by 度胸.
不ふ敵てき
臆病 describes a timid, easily frightened disposition, the opposite of the fearless, defiant quality expressed by 不敵.

Don't confuse with

臆おく病びょう者もの
臆病 is the noun/adjective for 'cowardice, timidity' describing a trait, while 臆病者 is the word for the person who has that trait.

Word family

臆おく病びょう者もの
coward; wimp
臆おく病びょう神がみ
god of cowardice; timidity-causing spirit
臆おく病びょう風かぜ
loss of nerve; attack of nerves; panic

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.

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.