nuòruò: 懦弱 - Cowardly, Weak-willed, Spineless

• Keywords: nuoruo, 懦弱, Chinese for coward, Chinese for weak, how to say spineless in Chinese, lack of courage in Chinese, what does nuoruo mean, HSK 5, Chinese character traits, 懦弱 vs 胆小
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 懦弱 (nuòruò), a powerful Chinese adjective used to describe someone as cowardly, weak-willed, or spineless. This page breaks down the characters 懦 and 弱, explores the cultural importance of courage in China, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Understand the critical difference between 懦弱 (nuòruò) and being merely timid (胆小, dǎnxiǎo) to use this term accurately and avoid misunderstandings.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): nuòruò
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Describes someone or something as cowardly, weak-willed, and lacking in courage or moral fortitude.
• In a Nutshell: 懦弱 (nuòruò) is a strong and decidedly negative term. It goes beyond simple physical weakness or shyness. It describes a fundamental flaw in a person's character—a lack of a backbone. Someone who is 懦弱 fails to stand up for themselves, for others, or for what is right, especially when faced with pressure, difficulty, or injustice. It implies they are easily intimidated and will choose the path of least resistance, even if it's dishonorable.

• 懦 (nuò): This character is about character and feeling. The left side is the “heart” radical (忄), which is used in many characters related to emotions and thoughts. The right side (需) primarily provides the sound. Together, you can think of it as a “weakness of the heart” or a hesitant character.
• 弱 (ruò): This character means “weak.” Pictorially, it's said to represent two bent bows (弓), which lack the tension and strength of a proper bow. It signifies a lack of physical or metaphorical strength.

When combined, 懦弱 (nuòruò) creates a powerful image: a weakness of the heart (懦) compounded by a general state of weakness (弱), resulting in a personality that is fundamentally cowardly and spineless.

In Chinese culture, both traditional and modern, courage (勇敢, yǒnggǎn) and strength of character (坚强, jiānqiáng) are highly esteemed virtues. Heroes in history, literature, and film are defined by their bravery and willingness to face adversity. Consequently, being labeled 懦弱 (nuòruò) is a serious criticism of one's character. A useful comparison in Western culture is the difference between “timid” and “spineless.”

• Timid (胆小, dǎnxiǎo): This is closer to being shy or easily frightened. It's often seen as a personality trait, especially in children, and doesn't necessarily carry a heavy moral judgment.
• Spineless/Cowardly (懦弱, nuòruò): This is a moral failing. It implies a person knows what is right but lacks the courage to act on it. It suggests they are unreliable under pressure and will abandon principles to save themselves. While an action can be “cowardly” in English, 懦弱 is more often used to describe a person's entire disposition. It's the antithesis of the cultural ideal of a hero (英雄, yīngxióng) or a person of integrity.

懦弱 is a strong word used to express clear disapproval. It is almost always negative and can be quite insulting depending on the context.

• In Personal Criticism: It's used to criticize someone's lack of assertiveness or courage. For example, calling a friend 懦弱 for not standing up to a bully or an unfair boss.
• In Self-Reflection: People use it to describe their own past actions with regret. “我真后悔当时的懦弱” (I really regret my cowardice back then).
• In Media and Literature: It's a common descriptor for villains who rely on manipulation instead of direct confrontation, or for weak characters who need to undergo a transformation to become brave.
• In Broader Discourse: It can be used to describe policies, decisions, or even national stances that are perceived as weak or indecisive. “This was a cowardly decision” (这是一个懦弱的决定).

• Example 1:
  • 他因为性格懦弱，在学校里总是被人欺负。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi xìnggé nuòruò, zài xuéxiào lǐ zǒngshì bèi rén qīfù.
  • English: Because of his cowardly personality, he is always bullied at school.
  • Analysis: This is a direct description of someone's character (性格, xìnggé) being the cause of their problems.
• Example 2:
  • 我讨厌自己当时的懦弱，为什么我没有站出来说话？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tǎoyàn zìjǐ dāngshí de nuòruò, wèishéme wǒ méiyǒu zhàn chūlái shuōhuà?
  • English: I hate my cowardice at that time; why didn't I stand up and speak out?
  • Analysis: Here, 懦弱 is used as a noun (“my cowardice”) in a moment of self-criticism and regret.
• Example 3:
  • 面对不公正的待遇，我们不能选择懦弱地沉默。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì bù gōngzhèng de dàiyù, wǒmen bùnéng xuǎnzé nuòruò de chénmò.
  • English: In the face of unfair treatment, we cannot choose cowardly silence.
  • Analysis: 懦弱 is used here as an adverbial phrase (懦弱地) to describe the manner of an action (silence).
• Example 4:
  • 领导批评他的方案太懦弱，缺乏创新精神。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo pīpíng tā de fāng'àn tài nuòruò, quēfá chuàngxīn jīngshén.
  • English: The leader criticized his proposal for being too “cowardly” (i.e., timid/unambitious), lacking a spirit of innovation.
  • Analysis: This shows how 懦弱 can be used metaphorically to describe something inanimate, like a plan (方案), as being weak or lacking boldness.
• Example 5:
  • 她的男朋友很懦弱，什么事都听他妈妈的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de nánpéngyǒu hěn nuòruò, shénme shì dōu tīng tā māmā de.
  • English: Her boyfriend is very spineless; he listens to his mom for everything.
  • Analysis: A common complaint in relationships, where 懦弱 implies a lack of independence and backbone.
• Example 6:
  • 别那么懦弱！你应该为自己的权利而斗争。
  • Pinyin: Bié nàme nuòruò! Nǐ yīnggāi wèi zìjǐ de quánlì ér dòuzhēng.
  • English: Don't be so cowardly! You should fight for your own rights.
  • Analysis: Used as a direct command or exhortation, urging someone to change their behavior.
• Example 7:
  • 在历史的关键时刻，懦弱的决定会带来灾难性的后果。
  • Pinyin: Zài lìshǐ de guānjiàn shíkè, nuòruò de juédìng huì dàilái zāinànxìng de hòuguǒ.
  • English: At critical moments in history, cowardly decisions can lead to disastrous consequences.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the use of 懦弱 in a more formal, serious context.
• Example 8:
  • 他外表看起来很强壮，但内心其实非常懦弱。
  • Pinyin: Tā wàibiǎo kàn qǐlái hěn qiángzhuàng, dàn nèixīn qíshí fēicháng nuòruò.
  • English: He looks very strong on the outside, but is actually very weak-willed on the inside.
  • Analysis: Highlights the distinction between physical strength and character strength.
• Example 9:
  • 这不是勇敢，这只是在掩饰你的懦弱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bùshì yǒnggǎn, zhè zhǐshì zài yǎnshì nǐ de nuòruò.
  • English: This isn't bravery; this is just covering up your cowardice.
  • Analysis: Directly contrasting 懦弱 (cowardice, as a noun) with its antonym, 勇敢 (bravery).
• Example 10:
  • 很多人把善良和懦弱混为一谈。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō rén bǎ shànliáng hé nuòruò hùnwéiyītán.
  • English: Many people confuse kindness with being weak-willed.
  • Analysis: A philosophical point showing how 懦弱 is distinguished from other, more positive traits like kindness (善良).

• 懦弱 (nuòruò) vs. 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) means “timid” or “fainthearted.” It's about being easily scared. A child who is afraid of the dark is 胆小. This is not a strong moral criticism.
  • 懦弱 (nuòruò) means “cowardly” or “spineless.” It's a judgment of character. A person who sees an injustice and is afraid to speak up is 懦弱. It implies a moral failing.
  • Incorrect: 那个小狗很懦弱，一有声音就叫。 (The puppy is very cowardly, it barks at any sound.) → Correct: 那个小狗很胆小… (The puppy is very timid…). Animals are timid, not cowardly in a moral sense.
• 懦弱 (nuòruò) vs. 弱 (ruò):
  • 弱 (ruò) simply means “weak.” It can be physical (身体很弱 - body is weak), technical (信号很弱 - signal is weak), or general.
  • 懦弱 (nuòruò) is specifically about weakness of character and courage.
  • Example: 他身体很弱 (Tā shēntǐ hěn ruò - His body is weak) is a statement of fact about health. 他很懦弱 (Tā hěn nuòruò - He is cowardly) is a strong judgment of his personality.

• 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) - Antonym. Brave, courageous. The direct opposite of 懦弱.
• 坚强 (jiānqiáng) - Antonym. Strong, firm, staunch. Describes a person with a strong will who can endure hardship, the opposite of a 懦弱 character.
• 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) - Related but less severe. Timid, fainthearted. Describes a tendency to be scared, not necessarily a moral failing.
• 软弱 (ruǎnruò) - Near-synonym. Weak, feeble. Can overlap with 懦弱 but can also be used for physical or general weakness, whereas 懦弱 is almost exclusively for character.
• 窝囊 (wōnāng) - Near-synonym. Describes being a pushover or feeling vexed and powerless. It carries a similar meaning to 懦弱 but often with an added sense of frustration and helplessness.
• 胆怯 (dǎnqiè) - Near-synonym. Timid, cowardly. Very similar to 胆小, perhaps slightly more formal.
• 无能 (wúnéng) - Related concept. Incompetent, incapable. A person who is 懦弱 might also be 无能 (incapable of acting effectively), but the two are not the same.
• 英雄 (yīngxióng) - Antonym concept. Hero. The cultural ideal that someone described as 懦弱 fails to embody.