timid

Compared meaning: not confident enough to act around others (adjective).

比较义项：因缺乏勇气或自信，而在他人面前感到不自在、不敢表现自己（形容词）。

• shy

  Shy describes natural self-consciousness or embarrassment around people, often shown physically (blushing, avoiding eye contact); it is a personality trait, not necessarily linked to fear or low self-confidence.

  shy 形容因天生的害羞或不好意思，而在他人面前感到不自在，常伴随脸红、回避眼神等身体表现；这是一种性格特质，不一定与恐惧或缺乏自信有关。

  The shy boy blushed and looked away when she said hello.

  那个害羞的男孩脸红了，她跟他打招呼时他把目光移开了。

• timid 本词

  Timid describes fearfulness or lack of courage, often triggered by threat or unfamiliarity; it is commonly used for people or animals who are easily scared, not just socially awkward.

  timid 形容因胆怯或缺乏勇气而产生的恐惧，通常由威胁或陌生情境引发；常用来形容容易受到惊吓的人或动物，而不仅仅是在社交场合中感到不自在。

  The timid puppy cowered whenever a stranger raised their voice.

  那只胆小的小狗一听到陌生人提高嗓门就吓得畏缩。

• diffident

  Diffident describes reluctance to assert oneself or express opinions because of low confidence in one's own worth or ability, often in professional or intellectual situations.

  diffident 形容因对自己的价值或能力缺乏自信，而不愿主动表达意见或表现自己，常见于职场或学术等场合。

  She remained diffident about her painting skills despite the praise.

  尽管受到称赞，她对自己的绘画水平仍然缺乏自信。

Shy, timid, and diffident all describe low confidence around others, but the cause differs. Shy means natural self-consciousness, shown by blushing or avoiding eye contact. Timid means fearfulness, common for people or animals who scare easily. Diffident means reluctance to state opinions, from low self-confidence.

这三个词都可以形容一个人在他人面前显得畏缩、不敢表现自己，但侧重不同：shy 强调天生的害羞、不好意思，常有脸红、回避眼神等身体表现；timid 强调因胆怯、害怕而不敢，常用于人或动物；diffident 强调因缺乏自信而不愿主动表达意见或表现自己，多见于职场、学术等场合。