Featured image for 怯 qiè Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

怯

Pronunciation

怯 qiè

To complete this step you need to listen to the audio pronunciation of the word once.

怯 qiè Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 5 English Translations of the word 怯 qiè .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
qiè | qie4
English translation
timid
cowardly
rustic
afraid, lacking in courage

Learn the Chinese word 怯 qiè in 8 easy steps:

1
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the first learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
2
Unlocks in 48h after completing the first learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
3
Unlocks in 7 days after completing the second learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
Slide 1 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 2 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 3 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

About 怯 qiè

Read some general information about the Chinese word 怯 qiè .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Number of strokes

8

Traditional form

怯 qiè

Contains the radical

忄 xīn

Part of speech

Status morpheme / 状态语素 Zhuàngtài yǔsù

Learning hint

heart

Etymology of 怯 qiè

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word 怯 qiè .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Type

pictophonetic

Positional decomposition

⿰忄去

Semantic compound

忄 xīn

Phonetic compound

去 qù

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 xīn represents the meaning and 去 qù represents the sound.

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word 怯 qiè .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

To complete this step you need to write the word once.

Spread the word

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

Lao Tzu Tweet

Example sentences using 怯 qiè

Broaden your vocabulary by interacting with 5 audio-assisted sentences using the Chinese word 怯 qiè in different contexts.

To complete this step you need to listen to each of the five Chinese sentences at least once. and scroll down.

他 tā 大 dà 夸 kuā 而 ér 特夸自己 zìjǐ 很 hěn 勇敢 yǒnggǎn , 但 dàn 一 yī 遇到 yùdào 危险 wēixiǎn ,他 tā 就 jiù 显得 xiǎnde 胆怯 dǎnqiè .

He boasted a lot about his courage, but when danger came he showed the white feather.

他 tā 趴在窗口 chuāng kǒu 往 wǎng 外 wài 看 kān , 一点 yī diǎn 也 Yě 不 bù 胆怯 dǎnqiè .

He looked out of the windows, saw nothing to fear.

那 Nā 男孩 nán hái 因 yīn 跛 bǒ 脚 jiǎo 被 bèi 人 rén 讥笑 jīxiào , 变 biàn 得 dé 羞怯 xiū qiè 而 ér 压抑 yāyì .

Having been laughed at for his lameness, the boy became shy and inhibited.

霍华德 Huò huá dé 想 xiǎng 成为 chéngwéi 流行 liúxíng 歌手 gē shǒu ，但 dàn 因 yīn 怯场 qiè chǎng 而 ér 心生畏惧 wèijù 。

Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him.

还 Huán 差 chā 几步他们 tā men 却 què 胆怯 dǎnqiè 了 le ，又 yòu 跑 páo 回来 huí lai 了。

Their courage failed a few steps short and they came running back.

Words with 怯 qiè

Explore 11 words and sayings that include the Chinese character 怯 qiè in their composition.

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

FrequencySimplifiedMeaningTraditional
胆怯 dǎnqiè timidity膽怯
怯 qiè timid怯 qiè
怯场 qiè chǎng to have stage fright怯場
怯懦 qiè nuò timid怯懦 qiè nuò
羞怯 xiū qiè shy羞怯 xiū qiè
怯弱 qiè ruò timid怯弱 qiè ruò
怯生生 qiè shēng shēng shy怯生生 qiè shēng shēng
卑怯 bēi qiè abject卑怯 bēi qiè
怯生 qiè shēng shy怯生 qiè shēng
惊怯 jīng qiè cowardly and panicking驚怯
大勇若怯 dà yǒng ruò qiè a great hero may appear timid (idiom); the really brave person remains level-headed大勇若怯 dà yǒng ruò qiè

怯 qiè Decomposition & Compounds

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

怯 qiè Decomposition

See the 3 Chinese characters that make up 怯 qiè and their own compounds.

Self-assessment
How well do you know the word 怯 qiè ?
I know the word
I want to continue learning the word
Go to Your Journey Page.
Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

Standard Course Packs by Hanban for HSK preparation

HSK Standard Course 1 SET - Textbook +Workbook (Chinese and English Edition)
HSK Standard Course 2 SET - Textbook +Workbook (Chinese and English Edition)
HSK Standard Course 3 SET - Textbook +Workbook (Chinese and English Edition)
51qXr87S3DL
51PrkeLXUJL
51pG7EZr6SL
51GRFApw4hL
HSK Standard Course 6a SET - Textbook +Workbook (Chinese and English Edition)
51+QJcPIAAL

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

Best Books for learning Mandarin

Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 1: The Quick and Easy Way to Learn Chinese Characters! (HSK Level 1 & AP Exam Prep)
Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 2: The Quick and Easy Way to Learn Chinese Characters! (HSK Level 2 & AP Study Exam Prep Book)
HSK 1-9 Vocabulary Guide: All 11,092 HSK Vocabularies with Pinyin and Translation (HSK Vocabulary Books)
Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English (Online Audio Recordings Included)
Mandarin Chinese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Chinese (Fully Romanized and Free Online Audio)
Learn Mandarin Chinese Workbook for Beginners: 2 books in 1: A Step-by-Step Textbook to Practice the Chinese Characters Quickly and Easily While ... for Learn Mandarin Chinese for Beginners)
Learn Mandarin Chinese Workbook for Beginners: A Step Step-by -Step Textbook to Practice the Chinese Characters Quickly and Easily While Having Fun (All Tools for Learn Mandarin Chinese for Beginners)
Harvest: Intermediate Chinese - Workbook (Chinese and English Edition)
Harvest: Intermediate Chinese - Textbook (Chinese and English Edition)
Living Language Mandarin Chinese, Complete Edition: Beginner through advanced course, including 3 coursebooks, 9 audio CDs, Chinese character guide, and free online learning

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Facebook-f Twitter Medium

Copyright © 2026 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top