心虚胆怯 timid and fearful
Explanation
形容心里不安，害怕；缺乏底气，胆子小。
describes someone who feels uneasy, is afraid; lacks confidence, is timid.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个名叫李白的书生，在京城参加科举考试，因准备不足，考试时心虚胆怯，写出的文章漏洞百出。考完后，李白心神不宁，整日惶恐不安。他忐忑不安地等待着放榜的日子，每当听到街上传来喧闹声，他就吓得躲起来，生怕榜上没有自己的名字。终于，放榜的日子到了，李白不敢去查看，拜托朋友代为查询。朋友回来后，告诉他落榜了。李白听后，如释重负，长长地舒了一口气，虽然落榜了，但他内心却感到轻松多了，因为那份心虚胆怯终于消失了。
It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, a scholar named Li Bai took the imperial examination in the capital. Due to insufficient preparation, he was anxious and fearful during the examination, and his essay was full of flaws. After the examination, Li Bai was restless and anxious. He anxiously waited for the day the list was released, and whenever he heard noisy sounds on the street, he hid in fear, afraid that his name would not appear on the list. Finally, the day came. Li Bai did not dare to check himself and asked a friend to help him. When his friend came back, he told Li Bai that he had failed the exam. Li Bai was relieved to hear this. He took a deep breath and felt much more relaxed. Although he had failed, he felt much more at ease in his heart, because his anxiety and fear had finally disappeared.
Usage
用于形容因做错事或害怕暴露而产生的心理状态，多用于书面语。
used to describe the mental state caused by doing something wrong or being afraid of exposure, mostly used in written language.
Examples
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他做贼心虚，胆怯得不敢出门。
tā zuò zéi xīn xū, dǎn qiè de bù gǎn chūmén
He is guilty and fearful, so he doesn't dare to go out.
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面对质问，他心虚胆怯，支支吾吾说不出话来。
miàn duì zhì wèn, tā xīn xū dǎn qiè, zhī zhī wū wū shuō bù chū huà lái
Faced with questioning, he is timid and can't speak properly.
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考试作弊被发现后，他心虚胆怯，脸色苍白。
kǎoshì zuòbì bèi fāxiàn hòu, tā xīn xū dǎn qiè, liǎnsè cāngbái
After being caught cheating on the exam, he is pale with fear and anxiety.