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March 24, 2026
胆小(膽小)dǎnxiǎo(dan3xiao3)
胆小 (dǎn xiǎo) refers to a person who is timid or cowardly, often avoiding challenges or fearful of taking risks. This term is commonly used in both informal conversations and written contexts to describe someone lacking courage or confidence in various situations.
Frequency#7388DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 胆小 may carry a negative connotation, often suggesting a lack of ambition or drive, which is viewed unfavorably in competitive contexts. This reflects the cultural value placed on courage and perseverance.
Memory Tip
Think of 胆 (dǎn) as the 'guts' of a person, representing bravery, while 小 (xiǎo) means 'small.' Imagine a small heart that quivers in fear, illustrating the essence of being timid. Together, 胆小 captures the image of someone whose courage is 'small.'
Meanings of 胆小
dǎnxiǎo(dan3xiao3)
1cowardice
2timid
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About 胆小
胆小Simplified
膽小Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 胆小
Podcast: 胆小
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AI Study Notes for 胆小
Quick Contrast
胆怯 (dǎnqiè) - use 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) for a more general description of timidity, while 胆怯 focuses specifically on fear in confronting situations.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 胆 (dǎn) as the 'guts' of a person, representing bravery, while 小 (xiǎo) means 'small.' Imagine a small heart that quivers in fear, illustrating the essence of being timid. Together, 胆小 captures the image of someone whose courage is 'small.'
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 胆小 with similar expressions like 胆怯 (dǎn qiè), which also means timid but has a slightly different nuance. This term is more informal and can be used in everyday speech but should be avoided in formal contexts. Common collocations include 胆小鬼 (dǎn xiǎo guǐ) for 'coward.'
HSK Study Tips
胆小 is not part of HSK vocabulary lists but is useful for learners at intermediate levels looking to express personality traits. Students should focus on its application in various scenarios and how it contrasts with words like 勇敢 (yǒng gǎn), meaning brave.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being labeled as 胆小 may carry a negative connotation, often suggesting a lack of ambition or drive, which is viewed unfavorably in competitive contexts. This reflects the cultural value placed on courage and perseverance.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 胆小 with the more neutral term 小心 (xiǎo xīn), which means 'careful.' For example, saying '他很小心' (tā hěn xiǎo xīn) to imply he is timid is incorrect; use 胆小 instead.
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Pronunciation of 胆小
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In Chinese culture, being labeled as 胆小 may carry a negative connotation, often suggesting a lack of ambition or drive, which is viewed unfavorably in competitive contexts. This reflects the cultural value placed on courage and perseverance.
📜Proverb
中国有句俗语，‘胆小如鼠’，用来形容非常害怕和胆怯的人。这表达了对胆小行为的否定态度。
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, while being timid can also be viewed negatively, there may be more acceptance of vulnerability and self-doubt compared to the often harsher judgment in Chinese contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions about 胆小
Synonyms for 胆小 include '害怕' (hài pà), meaning 'afraid', and '懦弱' (nuò ruò), meaning 'weak'. These words also convey similar ideas of fearfulness and lack of courage.
Yes, one common idiom is '胆小如鼠' (dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ), which translates to 'timid as a mouse'. This expression is often used to describe someone who is excessively fearful or cowardly.
胆小 (dǎn xiǎo) means 'timid' or 'cowardly' in Chinese. It describes someone who is easily frightened or lacks courage in challenging situations.
You can use 胆小 in a sentence like: '他很胆小，不敢一个人去黑暗的地方。' which means 'He is very timid and doesn't dare to go to dark places alone.' This illustrates the characteristic of being fearful or lacking in bravery.
You can say, '他真胆小，连小狗都不敢靠近。' (He is really timid, he doesn’t even dare to approach a small dog.)
While it primarily describes people, it can also refer to actions that are cautious or fearful in nature.
Some synonyms include 胆怯 (dǎn qiè) and 怯懦 (qiè nuò), both conveying similar meanings of timidity.
