This is the 8395th most frequent Japanese word.
怯ん
"怯ん" (hirun) means "to flinch" or "to be daunted."
The word '怯ん' is used here as a verb to describe someone's reaction of fear or hesitation when confronted with danger or aggression.
彼は敵の攻撃に怯んだ。
He flinched at the enemy's attack.
In this sentence, '怯ん' is describing an intentional portrayal of fear or hesitation to deceive and strategize against the opponent.
怯んだと見せかけて反撃した。
He pretended to flinch and then counterattacked.
The use of '怯ん' here reflects a change of emotional state, showing fear in a situation causing anxiety or anticipation of pain.