Usage note
胆小表示不太勇敢、容易害怕。
dǎn xiǎo biǎo shì bú tài yǒng gǎn 、 róng yì hài pà。
胆小 means timid or easily afraid.
Context note
胆小常用于性格和反应。
dǎn xiǎo cháng yòng yú xìng gé hé fǎn yìng。
It is often used for personality and reactions.
5 examples
他有点胆小。
tā yǒu diǎn dǎn xiǎo。
He is a bit timid.
孩子胆小怕黑。
hái zi dǎn xiǎo pà hēi。
The child is timid and afraid of the dark.
别胆小，试试看。
bié dǎn xiǎo， shì shì kàn。
Do not be timid, give it a try.
她小时候很胆小。
tā xiǎo shí hòu hěn dǎn xiǎo。
She was very timid when she was little.
胆小不是坏事。
dǎn xiǎo bú shì huài shì。
Being timid is not a bad thing.
5 mini stories
小猫一听声音就很胆小。
xiǎo māo yì tīng shēng yīn jiù hěn dǎn xiǎo。
The kitten is timid whenever it hears a sound.
老师鼓励胆小的学生发言。
lǎo shī gǔ lì dǎn xiǎo de xué shēng fà yán。
The teacher encouraged the timid student to speak.
他以前很胆小，现在好多了。
tā yǐ qián hěn dǎn xiǎo， xiàn zài hǎo duō le。
He used to be very timid, but now he is much better.
胆小的人也可以慢慢变勇敢。
dǎn xiǎo de rén yě kě yǐ màn màn biàn yǒng gǎn。
Timid people can also gradually become brave.
孩子因为胆小，不敢一个人睡。
hái zi yīn wèi dǎn xiǎo， bù gǎn yí gè rén shuì。
Because the child is timid, he does not dare to sleep alone.
Mini dialogue
怕黑
A
你为什么不开灯？
Nǐ wèishénme bù kāi dēng?
Why don't you turn on the light?
B
我有点胆小，怕黑。
Wǒ yǒudiǎn dǎnxiǎo, pà hēi.
I'm a bit timid, afraid of the dark.
举手
A
你为什么不举手回答问题？
Nǐ wèishénme bù jǔ shǒu huídá wèntí?
Why don't you raise your hand to answer questions?
B
我太胆小了，不敢在大家面前说话。
Wǒ tài dǎnxiǎo le, bù gǎn zài dàjiā miànqián shuōhuà.
I'm too timid to speak in front of everyone.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
勇敢
yǒnggǎn
brave
not afraid
similar
害怕
hàipà
scared
feeling afraid
related
害羞
hàixiū
shy
nervous with people