怯懦 is an adjective meaning 'cowardly' or 'craven', describing a person who lacks courage, especially in the face of fear, danger, or difficulty. The character 怯 means 'timid' or 'fearful', while 懦 means 'weak-willed' or 'lacking resolve'; together, they form a compound that emphasizes both emotional fear and moral weakness. It carries a strong negative connotation and is often used in formal or literary contexts to criticize someone’s lack of backbone or moral fortitude.

This word is rarely used in casual speech — it appears more frequently in written Chinese, such as essays, historical narratives, or moral commentary. It often describes behavior rooted in deep-seated insecurity or avoidance, rather than momentary nervousness. Unlike simpler terms like 害怕 (afraid) or 胆小 (shy/timid), 怯懦 implies a persistent, character-level deficiency in courage and is sometimes associated with ethical failure — for example, staying silent when witnessing injustice out of fear.