懦
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: cowardly; faint-hearted
💡 懦: a weak heart (忄) that needs (需) courage.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
懦 (nuò) means cowardly or faint-hearted. It combines the radical 忄 (heart/mind) with 需 (need/weak), suggesting a heart that lacks courage. In Chinese culture, cowardice is seen as a moral failing, contrasting with the Confucian ideal of bravery (勇). The character appears in idioms like 懦弱无能 (timid and incompetent).
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
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