daam2 hip3膽怯胆怯
Jyutpingdaam2 hip3
Yaledáam hip
Definition
Timid, faint-hearted, or lacking courage.
neutralemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a lack of courage or confidence in the face of a challenge or social situation. While it can be used in formal writing, it is also frequently used in speech to describe someone who is overly shy or easily intimidated. It carries a slightly more serious or literary tone compared to casual expressions like 驚青.
Examples
He is usually very timid and doesn't dare to talk to people.
Why are you so nervous? It's just a job interview.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe being physically scared of a specific object or danger, as it focuses more on a character trait or a lack of internal resolve. Use 驚 if you are simply afraid of something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
