臆病

そのいぬは おくびょうです。

That dog is timid.

Simple [Noun] wa [Adjective] desu structure.

おくびょうな ねこが います。

There is a timid cat.

Using 'na' to modify the noun 'neko'.

わたしは おくびょうじゃありません。

I am not timid.

Negative form of the na-adjective.

おくびょうに ならないでください。

Please don't be timid.

Negative command 'naide kudasai'.

彼は少し臆病です。

He is a little timid.

Using 'sukoshi' (a little) to soften the adjective.

臆病な子はどこですか。

Where is the timid child?

Question form with a modified noun.

このうさぎは臆病ですね。

This rabbit is timid, isn't it?

Adding 'ne' for confirmation.

臆病でも大丈夫です。

It's okay even if you are timid.

Using 'demo daijoubu' (it's okay even if).

新しいクラスで、私は臆病になってしまいました。

I became timid in the new class.

Using 'ni natte shimau' to show an unintended change.

彼は臆病だから、お化け屋敷に行きたくないと言いました。

Because he is timid, he said he doesn't want to go to the haunted house.

Using 'dakara' to show reason.

臆病な性格を直したいです。

I want to fix my timid personality.

Using 'tai' (want to) with 'naosu' (fix).

妹は臆病で、いつも母の後ろにいます。

My little sister is timid and is always behind our mother.

Using the 'de' form to connect two sentences.

臆病にならずに、話してみてください。

Try to speak without being timid.

Using 'narazu ni' (without becoming).

彼は臆病なところがありますが、優しいです。

He has a timid side, but he is kind.

Using 'tokoro ga aru' (has a side/aspect).

臆病な自分を変えたいと思っています。

I'm thinking that I want to change my timid self.

Using 'to omotte imasu' for a continuous thought.

そんなに臆病にならないで、やってみよう！

Don't be so timid, let's try it!

Informal 'naide' command with 'shiyou' (let's).

失敗を恐れて、臆病になってはいけません。

You must not become timid by fearing failure.

Using 'te wa ikemasen' (must not).

彼は臆病者だと思われたくなくて、無理をしました。

He didn't want to be thought of as a coward, so he pushed himself too hard.

Passive form 'omowaretai' (want to be thought of) + negative.

過去の経験から、彼は人間関係に対して臆病になっている。

Due to past experiences, he has become timid toward human relationships.

Using 'ni taishite' (toward/regarding).

臆病な投資家は、今回のチャンスを逃すだろう。

Timid investors will likely miss this opportunity.

Future conjecture with 'darou'.

自分の意見を言うのに、臆病になる必要はありません。

There is no need to be timid about stating your opinion.

Using 'hitsuyou wa arimasen' (no need to).

彼は臆病な反面、非常に慎重でミスが少ない。

While he is timid, on the other hand, he is very cautious and makes few mistakes.

Using 'hanmen' (on the other hand).

臆病風に吹かれるという言葉を知っていますか。

Do you know the expression 'to be struck by a timid wind' (to get cold feet)?

Introducing an idiom with 'to iu'.

臆病な自分を克服するために、冒険に出ることにした。

In order to overcome my timid self, I decided to go on an adventure.

Using 'tame ni' (in order to) and 'koto ni shita' (decided to).

彼は臆病にも、責任を他人に押し付けようとした。

Timidly (and cowardly), he tried to push the responsibility onto others.

Using 'ni mo' to emphasize the manner/nature of the action.

この不況下では、どの企業も臆病な経営姿勢をとらざるを得ない。

Under this recession, every company is forced to take a timid management stance.

Using 'zaru wo enai' (cannot help but/forced to).

臆病さは、時として生存戦略として機能することがある。

Timidity can sometimes function as a survival strategy.

Using 'sa' to turn the adjective into a noun (timidity).

彼女は恋愛に臆病なあまり、告白できずに十年が過ぎた。

Because she was so timid about love, ten years passed without her being able to confess.

Using 'na amari' (so much that.../due to excessive...).

臆病者のレッテルを貼られることを、彼は何よりも恐れていた。

He feared being labeled a coward more than anything else.

Using 'retteru wo harareru' (to be labeled).

市場が臆病になっている今こそ、大胆な投資が必要だ。

Now that the market is becoming timid, bold investment is necessary.

Using 'ima koso' (now is the very time).

彼の臆病な言動は、周囲の信頼を損なう原因となった。

His timid words and actions caused a loss of trust from those around him.

Using 'gendou' (words and deeds).

臆病な心と向き合うことが、真の勇気への第一歩だ。

Facing your timid heart is the first step toward true courage.

Using 'mukiau' (to face/confront).

彼の振る舞いは、臆病というよりは、むしろ狡猾と言えるだろう。

His behavior could be described as cunning rather than just timid.

Using 'to iu yori wa mushiro' (rather than...).

臆病な知性が、時には無謀な情熱よりも真実を射抜くことがある。

A timid intellect sometimes pierces the truth more than reckless passion.

Abstract usage of 'okubyō' modifying 'chisei' (intellect).

その政治家は、臆病風に吹かれて重要な法案の採決を欠席した。

That politician, getting cold feet, was absent from the vote on the important bill.

Using the idiom 'okubyō-kaze ni fukareru' in a formal context.

近代文学における「臆病な自尊心」というテーマは非常に興味深い。

The theme of 'timid self-esteem' in modern literature is very interesting.

Reference to the famous phrase from 'Sangetsuki'.

臆病ゆえの慎重さが、皮肉にも彼を破滅から救ったのだ。

Ironically, it was the caution born of timidity that saved him from ruin.

Using 'yue no' (due to/because of).

大衆の臆病な心理を利用するプロパガンダには注意が必要だ。

One must be careful of propaganda that exploits the timid psychology of the masses.

Using 'taishuu' (the masses) and 'shinri' (psychology).

彼は臆病であることを隠すために、あえて尊大な態度を取った。

In order to hide his timidity, he deliberately took a haughty attitude.

Using 'aete' (deliberately/daringly).

臆病な魂が、静寂の中に真理を見出すこともある。

A timid soul may find truth within the silence.

Poetic usage with 'tamashii' (soul).

臆病者の沈黙は、時に雄弁な肯定よりも深く事態を物語る。

The silence of a coward sometimes tells the story more deeply than an eloquent affirmation.

Using 'yuuben' (eloquent) and 'monogataru' (to tell/narrate).

権力への臆病な屈従が、歴史の凄惨な悲劇を幾度となく繰り返させてきた。

Timid submission to power has repeatedly caused the horrific tragedies of history to recur.

Using 'kujuu' (submission) and 'seisan' (horrific).

彼の臆病さは、もはや性格という範疇を超え、一種の病理と化していた。

His timidity had already exceeded the category of personality and turned into a kind of pathology.

Using 'hanchuu' (category) and 'byouri' (pathology).

「臆病な自尊心」と「尊大な羞恥心」が、中島敦の描く李徴を虎に変えたのである。

'Timid self-esteem' and 'haughty shame' transformed Li Zheng, as depicted by Nakajima Atsushi, into a tiger.

Direct literary analysis of 'Sangetsuki'.

臆病な官僚機構が、革新的な技術の芽を摘み取ってしまうことが多々ある。

A timid bureaucracy often nips the buds of innovative technology.

Metaphorical usage with 'me wo tsumitoru' (to nip in the bud).

自己の臆病さを直視し、それを糧にすることこそが、真の克己であろう。

To look one's own timidity in the eye and use it as nourishment—that is true self-mastery.

Using 'kate' (nourishment/food) and 'kokki' (self-mastery).

臆病な平和主義が、かえって紛争を長期化させるという逆説が存在する。

There exists a paradox where a timid pacifism actually prolongs conflict.

Using 'gyakusetsu' (paradox) and 'kaette' (on the contrary).

臆病な美学を貫く彼の作品は、繊細さと危うさが同居している。

His works, which adhere to a timid aesthetic, possess both delicacy and precariousness.

Using 'bigaku' (aesthetic) and 'doukyo' (coexistence).