胆怯 (dǎn qiè) is an adjective meaning 'timid' or 'cowardly', describing a person who feels fear easily and avoids taking risks or speaking up, especially in social or challenging situations. The character 胆 (dǎn) literally means 'gallbladder' but figuratively stands for 'courage' or 'nerve' — as in the idiom 胆大 (dǎn dà, 'bold'). The character 怯 (qiè) means 'fearful' or 'apprehensive'. Together, 胆怯 expresses the absence of courage — not just shyness, but a deeper hesitation rooted in anxiety or insecurity.

This word often carries a slightly negative or critical tone, implying weakness of will rather than harmless introversion. It’s commonly used to describe behavior in school, work, or public settings — for example, a student too nervous to answer questions, or an employee reluctant to voice opinions in meetings. While it can appear in formal writing and speech, it’s less common in casual conversation than simpler terms like 害羞 (hài xiū, 'shy') or 害怕 (hài pà, 'afraid').