Timidity is the noun for being timid: the state of having no courage or confidence, or an occasion when someone shows it. It is a more formal word than the adjective, and you meet it far more often in writing than in speech — in book reviews, editorials, and reports.

Timidity timidity膽怯 is the noun for being timid是timid膽怯的名詞 the state of having no courage or confidence指沒有勇氣或自信的狀態 or an occasion when someone shows it或某人表現出這樣子的一次情況。It is a more formal word than the adjective它比形容詞正式 and you meet it far more often in writing than in speech你在書面裡遇到它的機會比口語多很多 in book reviews, editorials, and reports像書評、社論、和報告裡。

Two uses cover almost everything. First, about a person's nature: 'his natural timidity', 'she overcame her timidity'. Second, and very commonly, about a decision or an organisation that was not bold enough: 'the timidity of the government's response', 'artistic timidity'.

Two uses cover almost everything兩種用法幾乎涵蓋了所有情況。First, about a person's nature第一種，關於一個人的天性 'his natural timidity', 'she overcame her timidity'像'his natural timidity'他天生的膽怯、'she overcame her timidity'她克服了自己的膽怯。Second, and very commonly, about a decision or an organisation that was not bold enough第二種，也很常見，是說一個決定或組織不夠大膽 'the timidity of the government's response', 'artistic timidity'像'the timidity of the government's response'政府回應的保守怯懦、'artistic timidity'藝術上的保守。

That second use is a criticism, and a fairly sharp one dressed in polite clothes — the writer is saying somebody knew what to do and did not dare.

That second use is a criticism第二種用法是一種批評 and a fairly sharp one dressed in polite clothes而且是包著禮貌外衣的相當尖銳的批評 the writer is saying somebody knew what to do and did not dare作者其實是在說某人知道該怎麼做卻不敢做。

It is uncountable, so no 'a timidity' and no plural. The words that go with it are worth learning as a set: you overcome, conquer, or shed your timidity; you criticise or accuse someone of timidity; something is done with timidity.

It is uncountable這是不可數名詞 so no 'a timidity' and no plural所以沒有'a timidity'，也沒有複數。The words that go with it are worth learning as a set跟它搭配的字值得整組學起來 you overcome, conquer, or shed your timidity你可以overcome克服、conquer征服、或shed擺脫你的timidity you criticise or accuse someone of timidity你可以criticise批評或accuse指責某人timidity something is done with timidity某件事是帶著timidity做的。

In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'shyness' about a person, or 'playing it safe' about a decision — timidity is the word you write, not the word you chat with.

In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'shyness' about a person日常對話裡，講一個人比較會說'shyness'害羞 or 'playing it safe' about a decision講一個決定則比較會說'playing it safe'求穩 timidity is the word you write, not the word you chat withtimidity是你會寫的詞，不是你會聊天用的詞。