cowardly
cowardly — 形容詞
1. If you describe a person as cowardly, you mean they show no bravery and will not
膽小的
缺乏勇氣的，膽怯的
If you describe a person as cowardly, you mean they show no bravery and will not face situations that involve risk, hardship, or the chance of getting hurt. Such a person typically runs away from threats or avoids taking a stand when doing so would require courage.
Iker was too cowardly to tell his boss about the mistake in the report.
Iker 太膽小了，不敢告訴老闆報告裡的錯誤。
too cowardly to [infinitive]
A cowardly general might send soldiers into battle but refuse to fight himself.
一個膽小的將軍可能會派士兵上戰場，自己卻拒絕作戰。
The cowardly thief ran away the moment the security guard turned the corner.
那個膽小的小偷一看到警衛轉過彎來就逃走了。
Eli called his teammate cowardly for refusing to speak up during the meeting.
Eli 說他的隊友很膽小，因為他在會議上不敢發言。
No one respected the captain after his cowardly decision to abandon the ship.
船長做出棄船的懦弱決定之後，沒有人再尊敬他。
- brave
The direct opposite — willing to face danger or pain.
- courageous
More formal than 'brave'; suggests deliberate choice to face fear.
文法句型
cowardly + noun (person)
too cowardly to + infinitive
be cowardly of someone to + infinitive
用法筆記
Only used for people, not animals. An animal that runs from danger is 'timid' or 'fearful'; calling it 'cowardly' applies a moral judgment that does not fit animal behaviour.
常見錯誤
2. A cowardly action or behaviour shows a complete lack of bravery on the part of t
懦弱的
顯示怯懦或卑鄙的
A cowardly action or behaviour shows a complete lack of bravery on the part of the person who does it. Such acts are often done secretly, from a safe distance, or against people who are unable to defend themselves, making the action seem unfair and mean.
Spreading anonymous lies about a coworker online is a cowardly act.
在網路上匿名散布同事的謠言是一種懦弱的行為。
cowardly act / attack / behaviour
The graffiti on the school wall was a cowardly attack on a teacher everyone respected.
學校牆上的塗鴉是對一位大家尊敬的老師懦弱的攻擊。
Tamás thought it was cowardly to laugh at a classmate who had just fallen and hurt himself.
Tamás 認為嘲笑剛跌倒受傷的同學是懦弱的表現。
Kemi called the vandalism a cowardly way of expressing anger without facing the consequences.
Kemi 說那種破壞行為是懦弱的發洩憤怒方式，不敢面對後果。
- dishonorable
Focuses on the loss of personal honour rather than on fear.
- contemptible
Stronger; emphasises that the action deserves deep disapproval.
- low
Informal; suggests unfairness, meanness, or a dirty trick.
文法句型
cowardly + noun (act / attack / thing)
it is cowardly to + infinitive
a cowardly thing to do
用法筆記
Common in news reports and political statements to condemn violent attacks, especially those targeting civilians or vulnerable groups ('a cowardly terrorist attack,' 'a cowardly act of violence').
常見錯誤
cowardly — 副詞
1. If you say that someone acts cowardly, you mean that their behaviour shows no br
膽怯地
以缺乏勇氣的方式
If you say that someone acts cowardly, you mean that their behaviour shows no bravery. They typically avoid direct confrontation, run from responsibility, or take unfair advantage of someone who is weaker or less protected.
The official cowardly refused to answer the reporter's questions about the missing funds.
那位官員膽怯地拒絕回答記者關於資金失蹤的問題。
cowardly + verb of avoidance
Piotr cowardly blamed his teammate for the loss, even though the mistake was his own.
Piotr 膽怯地把輸球責任推給隊友，但其實是他自己的錯。
Ravindra cowardly crept out the back door when he saw his angry neighbour approaching.
Ravindra 看到生氣的鄰居走近時，膽怯地從後門溜了出去。
Salma cowardly deleted the incriminating email instead of admitting her mistake.
Salma 不承認錯誤，反而膽怯地刪除了那封不利的電子郵件。
- timidly
Less morally charged; suggests hesitation or shyness rather than deliberate avoidance.
- spinelessly
Informal; carries the same insulting tone as the adjective.
文法句型
cowardly + verb of avoidance or unfair action
verb + in a cowardly way / manner (alternative construction)
用法筆記
The adverb form is less frequent than the adjective. In everyday speech, the phrase 'in a cowardly way' or 'in a cowardly manner' is more natural than the single-word adverb. The single-word form appears mostly in formal or literary writing.