no6 fu1懦夫
Jyutpingno6 fu1
Yalenoh fū
Definition
A coward or weakling; a person, especially a man, who lacks courage and shrinks from conflict.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of contempt and is almost exclusively used to criticize men for lacking courage or failing to take responsibility. It implies a moral failing rather than just being shy or timid. Using this word is a direct personal attack that can easily escalate a conflict.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Why are you being such a coward? Stand your ground.
He is just a coward, he doesn't dare to face reality.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 膽小鬼, which is a more general term for someone who is easily scared, such as a child afraid of the dark. 懦夫 specifically targets a person's character and lack of backbone, making it significantly more offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
