弱 虫(よわむし)

よわむし

noun, na-adjective

coward; wimp; crybaby

1. coward; wimp; crybaby

A person who is timid, easily frightened, or cries easily. Used as a mild insult or teasing term, especially among children.

弱虫(よわむし)！泣(な)くな。

Don't be a crybaby! Stop crying.

子供(こども)の頃(ころ)は弱虫(よわむし)だった。

I was a wimp when I was a kid.

弱虫(よわむし)と呼(よ)ばれるのが嫌(いや)で、勇気(ゆうき)を出(だ)して挑戦(ちょうせん)した。

I didn't want to be called a coward, so I mustered my courage and took on the challenge.

A compound of 弱(よわ)い (weak) and 虫(むし) (bug/insect). The 虫(むし) suffix is used in several Japanese words to describe personality types, similar to English expressions like "bookworm."

Common collocations

弱虫(よわむし)な子(こ): a timid child
弱虫(よわむし)と呼(よ)ばれる: to be called a wimp
弱虫(よわむし)を克服(こくふく)する: to overcome one's timidity

RELATED WORDS WITH 虫(むし):

泣(な)き虫(むし): crybaby (focuses specifically on crying)
怠(なま)け虫(むし): lazybones
本(ほん)の虫(むし): bookworm

Usage

Most commonly used by or about children. Among adults, it is playful or teasing rather than a serious insult. Can function as a な-adjective when modifying nouns: 弱虫(よわむし)な性格(せいかく) (a timid personality).

Related Words

Related: 臆病(おくびょう) (cowardly)

Related: 小心者(しょうしんもの) (coward)

Compare: へたれ (wimp)

Compare: 臆病者(おくびょうもの) (coward)

Compare: 卑怯者(ひきょうもの) (coward)

general

Added 2026.3.28 14:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

20000/20009_yowamushi