Vijana wengi wanaojifunza Kiingereza hupata shida kutofautisha maneno 'timid' na 'cowardly'. Ingawa yanaashiria uoga, kuna tofauti kubwa. 'Timid' ina maana ya kuwa mnyenyekevu kupita kiasi au aibu, mara nyingi kutokana na ukosefu wa ujasiri. 'Cowardly', kwa upande mwingine, ina maana ya kuwa mnyonge na kukosa ujasiri kabisa, hasa katika hali hatarishi. Mtu wa 'timid' anaweza kuwa na hofu ya kuzungumza mbele ya watu wengi, lakini mtu wa 'cowardly' anaweza kukimbia kutoka katika hali hatarishi bila kujali matokeo.

Mfano:

• Timid: Alikuwa mtulivu na mwenye haya; alikuwa timid sana kuuliza swali darasani.

• English: He was shy and quiet; he was too timid to ask a question in class.

• Cowardly: Alikimbia kutoka kwenye moto huo; kitendo chake kilikuwa cowardly.

• English: He ran away from the fire; his action was cowardly.

• Timid: Alifurahi sana kukutana na msanii wake anayempenda, lakini alikuwa timid sana kuomba picha.

• English: She was very excited to meet her favorite artist, but she was too timid to ask for a picture.

• Cowardly: Hakutaka kuingilia kati wakati marafiki zake walikuwa wanapigwa; alikuwa cowardly sana.

• English: He didn't want to intervene when his friends were being bullied; he was too cowardly.

Happy learning!