daam2 siu2膽小胆小
Jyutpingdaam2 siu2
Yaledáam síu
Definition
Timid, cowardly, or easily frightened; lacking courage.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
While 膽小 is understood, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the more idiomatic term 細膽 in casual conversation. Using 膽小 can sound slightly more formal or descriptive, similar to how one might use a written adjective in a spoken sentence. It is often used when emphasizing a lack of courage rather than just a personality trait.
Examples
He is a timid person, he screams even when he sees a cockroach.
Why are you being so timid? It's just an interview.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 膽小 as a direct translation for shy, but it specifically refers to fearfulness or cowardice. If someone is shy around strangers, the correct term is 怕醜.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
