khiếp nhược

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 怯弱, composed of 怯 (“timid”) and 弱 (“weak”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [xiəp̚˧˦ ɲɨək̚˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kʰiəp̚˦˧˥ ɲɨək̚˨˩ʔ] ~ [xiəp̚˦˧˥ ɲɨək̚˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [kʰip̚˦˥ ɲɨək̚˨˩˨] ~ [xip̚˦˥ ɲɨək̚˨˩˨]

Adjective

khiếp nhược

1. (literary) cowardly; spineless; timid