no6懦

Jyutpingno6

Yalenoh

語素Uncommon

Definition

Cowardly, weak, or timid.

writtendescriptionsemotion

How it's used

This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme within the compound 懦弱. It functions as a formal descriptor for someone lacking courage or mental fortitude. You will rarely hear it used as a standalone adjective in spoken Cantonese, as native speakers prefer using 膽小 or 冇膽 to describe cowardice.

Examples

keoi5佢ping4平si4時hou2好no6懦joek6弱，m4唔gam2敢ceot1出seng1聲。

He is usually very cowardly and does not dare to speak up.

zou6做jan4人m4唔hou2好gam3咁no6懦joek6弱，jiu3要jung5勇gam2敢di1啲。

Don't be so cowardly in life, you need to be braver.

Common phrases

no6懦joek6弱

cowardly and weak

Common mistake

Learners often try to use this as a standalone verb or adjective, but it sounds unnatural and overly literary in casual conversation. Stick to using it only within the set phrase 懦弱.