unknown, 17 strokes, radical 忄, rank #63500, Very Hard
nuò(nuo4) T4
1weak, timid, cowardly
2imbecile
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March 24, 2026
懦nuò(nuo4)
The character 懦 (nuò) conveys a sense of weakness or timidity, often used to describe someone who is cowardly or lacks courage. In various contexts, it can also imply a lack of decisiveness or mental strength, commonly seen in discussions about personal traits or behaviors.
Strokes17Radical忄Frequency#63500DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 懦 can carry significant social stigma, especially in contexts of honor and bravery, where courage is highly valued. This character might be used in literature to critique characters who fail to act bravely.
Memory Tip
Imagine a timid person (懦) shrinking away from a strong wind (the radical '心' for heart, symbolizing emotions), representing the fear and weakness they feel. The sound 'nuò' can remind you of 'no,' as in 'no, I won't do that,' reflecting a cowardly refusal.
Meanings of 懦
nuò(nuo4)
1weak, timid, cowardly
2imbecile
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 懦
懦Simplified
17Strokes
忄Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 懦
Podcast: 懦
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AI Study Notes for 懦
Quick Contrast
懦 (nuò) vs 胆小 (dǎn xiǎo) — use 懦 when emphasizing a broader sense of cowardice or lack of courage, while 胆小 specifically refers to being timid or fearful in specific situations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a timid person (懦) shrinking away from a strong wind (the radical '心' for heart, symbolizing emotions), representing the fear and weakness they feel. The sound 'nuò' can remind you of 'no,' as in 'no, I won't do that,' reflecting a cowardly refusal.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 懦 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can also appear in literature to describe characters. Common collocations include 懦弱 (nuòruò) meaning 'weak and timid.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 懦 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo, timid) and 怯懦 (qiènùo, cowardly). Students should focus on the emotional implications of words, as understanding nuance is key at this level.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 懦 can carry significant social stigma, especially in contexts of honor and bravery, where courage is highly valued. This character might be used in literature to critique characters who fail to act bravely.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 懦 with 忍 (rěn), which means to endure. For example, saying '他是个忍的人' (tā shì gè rěn de rén) is incorrect; it should be '他是个懦的人' (tā shì gè nuò de rén) to convey cowardice.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 懦
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Grammar Patterns of 懦
懦 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
马克非常直率而严肃地说：“你是个____夫。”
"You're a coward," Mark said very plainly and soberly.
Example Sentences for 懦 (3)
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1
马克非常直率而严肃地说：“你是个懦夫。”
mǎ kè fēi cháng zhí shuài ér yán sù dì shuō：“ ：“ nǐ shì gè nuò。”
"You're a coward," Mark said very plainly and soberly.
2
这把她描绘得很懦弱，其实她性格十分坚强。
zhè bǎ tā miáo huì dé hěn nuò ruò， ， qí shí tā xìng gé shí fēn jiān。
This portrays her as wimpy, but she has a very strong character.
3
他风格真高。或者我是否应该说他很懦弱？
tā fēng gé zhēn gāo。 。 huò zhě wǒ shì fǒu yīng gāi shuō tā hěn nuò？
That was sporting of him. Or should I say cowardly.
Cultural Notes for 懦
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 懦 can carry significant social stigma, especially in contexts of honor and bravery, where courage is highly valued. This character might be used in literature to critique characters who fail to act bravely.
Word Family of 懦
Words Containing This Character5
懦夫coward
懦弱cowardly
懦nuòtimid
怯懦timid
愚懦ignorant and timid
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 懦夫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 懦
The pinyin for 懦 is 'nuò', with a falling tone, similar to the sound of 'no' in English.
While it primarily describes personal traits, 懦 can also be applied metaphorically to situations where a lack of courage is evident.
Synonyms include 胆怯 (dǎnqiè, timid) and 懦弱 (nuòruò, weak and cowardly).
