1
diffidence in sth
介词 in 后接缺乏自信的方面，也可用 about。
His diffidence in public speaking prevented him from pursuing a political career.
他在公开演讲方面的缺乏自信阻止了他追求政治生涯。
羞怯；缺乏自信
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
羞怯；缺乏自信
The state of being timid, shy, or lacking self-confidence; reticence or self-effacement.
His diffidence in public speaking prevented him from pursuing a political career.
他在公开演讲方面的缺乏自信阻止了他追求政治生涯。
羞怯；缺乏自信
The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.
Her diffidence prevented her from speaking up during the meeting.
她的缺乏自信使她在会议期间不敢发言。
Despite his diffidence, he was an excellent writer.
尽管他缺乏自信，但他是一位出色的作家。
She tried to overcome her diffidence by taking a public speaking class.
她试图通过参加公开演讲课程来克服自己的羞怯。
介词 in 后接缺乏自信的方面，也可用 about。
His diffidence in public speaking prevented him from pursuing a political career.
他在公开演讲方面的缺乏自信阻止了他追求政治生涯。
动词 show 常与 diffidence 搭配，表示流露不自信。
She showed diffidence when asked to lead the team.
当被要求领导团队时，她表现出了羞怯。
Not this
He is diffidence.
Use this
He is diffident.
diffidence是名词，不能用作形容词。表示‘缺乏自信的’应用形容词形式diffident。
Not this
His difference in speaking English is obvious.
Use this
His diffidence in speaking English is obvious.
difference意为‘差异’，diffidence意为‘缺乏自信’。拼写混淆导致语义错误。
Not this
He has diffidence in his ability.
Use this
He has confidence in his ability.
diffidence表示缺乏自信，而confidence表示自信。此处需要表达‘有信心’，故应用confidence。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
克服羞怯
She worked hard to overcome her diffidence in public.
她努力克服在公开场合的羞怯。
带着几分羞怯
He spoke with some diffidence about his achievements.
他带着几分羞怯谈到自己的成就。
对……缺乏自信
His diffidence about his English made him avoid conversations.
他对自己的英语缺乏自信，因此回避交谈。
天生的羞怯
Her natural diffidence kept her from seeking the spotlight.
她天生的羞怯使她不愿成为焦点。
在……方面的羞怯
His diffidence in meetings was mistaken for disinterest.
他在会议上的羞怯被误认为是不感兴趣。
缺乏自信是谨慎的右眼。
His diffidence kept him from volunteering for the presentation.
他因缺乏自信而没有主动要求做演示。
Use diffidence naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
diffidence 以 dif 开头，和 confidence（自信）相反，联想为“缺乏自信”，即羞怯。
语域：formal 常见场景：正式写作、文学叙述、书面语 diffidence 通常用于正式或书面语境，指羞怯或缺乏自信，口语中更常说 shyness 或 lack of confidence。
这些词都以 -dence 结尾，容易和 diffidence 混淆。它们没有一个与 diffidence /ˈdifidəns/ 完全押韵：confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/、evidence /ˈɛvɪdəns/、residence /ˈrɛzɪdəns/、incidence /ˈɪnsɪdəns/ 的重音都在第一个音节，但重读元音不同；coincidence /kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns/ 的重音在 -in- 上；difference /ˈdɪfərəns/ 只在前半段拼写相似，结尾发音完全不同。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.