qiè

怯

Character · Adjective

cowardly; tacky; unknowledgeable; regional accent

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 13 examples
1.

adjective

cowardly; timid; fearful

neutral

Describes a person's lack of courage, often used in daily conversations.

Tā他
dǎn胆
zi子
hěn很
xiǎo小
 ,
tè特
bié别
qiè怯
chǎng场
 。

He is very timid, especially nervous when performing in front of an audience.

Dì第
yī一
cì次
shàng上
tái台
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
 ,
wǒ我
yǒu有
diǎn点
qiè怯
 。

I felt a bit nervous when giving a speech on stage for the first time.

Show 3 more examples
Miàn面
duì对
xiōng凶
měng猛
de的
dà大
gǒu狗
 ,
tā她
háo毫
wú无
qiè怯
yì意
 。

She showed no fear when facing the fierce big dog.

Hái孩
zi子
qiè怯
shēng生
shì是
hěn很
zhèng正
cháng常
de的
xiàn现
xiàng象
 。

It's normal for young children to be wary of strangers.

Tā他
qiè怯
yú于
zài在
gōng公
zhòng众
miàn面
qián前
fā发
yán言
 。

He is afraid to speak in front of the public.

2.

adjective

regional northern accent

informal, derogatory

A colloquial, slightly derogatory term used by Beijingers to refer to the regional accents of northern Chinese provinces.

Tā他
cóng从
dōng东
běi北
lái来
běi北
jīng京
 ,
shuō说
huà话
yǒu有
diǎn点
qiè儿
 怯
 。

He came to Beijing from Northeast China, and his speech has a bit of a northern regional accent.

Yǒu有
xiē些
běi北
jīng京
rén人
huì会
jué觉
de得
wài外
dì地
kǒu口
yīn音
yǒu有
diǎn点
qiè怯
 。

Some Beijingers think that regional accents from other places sound a bit unrefined.

3.

adjective

tacky; unfashionable; old-fashioned

informal, derogatory

Used to describe clothing, styles, or behaviors that are considered out of date or lacking taste.

Zhè这
liǎng两
zhǒng种
yán颜
sè色
pèi配
qǐ起
lái来
xiǎn显
de得
hěn很
qiè怯
 。

Matching these two colors together looks really tacky.

Tā他
de的
chuān穿
dā搭
zǒng总
shì是
xiǎn显
de得
yǒu有
diǎn点
qiè怯
 。

His outfits always look a bit unfashionable.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
zhǒng种
lǎo老
shì式
suì碎
huā花
shā沙
fā发
tào套
xiǎn显
de得
hěn很
qiè怯
 。

This old-fashioned floral sofa cover looks quite tacky.

4.

adjective

unknowledgeable; inexperienced; out of touch

informal, derogatory

Used to describe someone who lacks knowledge or experience in a specific field, often used in the phrase 露怯 (to show one's ignorance).

Zài在
zhuān专
yè业
rén人
shì士
miàn面
qián前
 ,
tā他
bù不
gǎn敢
shuō说
huà话
 ,
pà怕
lòu露
qiè怯
 。

In front of professionals, he dared not speak for fear of showing his ignorance.

Tā他
lián连
zhè这
gè个
jī基
běn本
cāo操
zuò作
dōu都
bù不
huì会
 ,
zhēn真
shì是
lòu露
qiè怯
le了
 。

He can't even do this basic operation, which is really showing his inexperience.

Show 1 more example
Dì第
yī一
cì次
cān参
jiā加
gāo高
duān端
jiǔ酒
huì会
 ,
tā他
yǒu有
diǎn点
qiè怯
chǎng场
 ,
shēng生
pà怕
lòu露
qiè怯
 。

Attending a high-end cocktail party for the first time, he was nervous and afraid of showing his ignorance.