tender, weakness, gentleness, softness

About this kanji

The kanji "柔" primarily means tender or soft, conveying a sense of gentleness or flexibility. It is commonly used as an adjective, seen in words like "柔らか" (やわらか) meaning soft, or "柔らかい" (やわらかい) which is also used to describe something that is soft. As a noun, it appears in terms like "柔道" (じゅうどう), which is the martial art of judo, showcasing the concept of using gentleness to overcome strength. Another useful compound is "柔軟" (じゅうなん), which means flexible, important for describing both physical and mental adaptability. A note to remember is that this kanji often implies a positive quality, highlighting the strength in softness.

Example sentences

• この布はとても柔らかい。

  This cloth is very soft.

Meanings across languages

English

tender, weakness, gentleness, softness

Tiếng Việt

dịu dàng

日本語

柔らかい

한국어

부드러운

中文

柔软

id

lembut, kelemahan

th

นุ่ม, ความอ่อนโยน

es

tierno, suavidad

fr

tendre, douceur

de

zart, sanftigkeit

pt

macio, delicado

Common compounds

• 柔道じゅうどうjudo
• 柔軟じゅうなんflexible, lithe, soft
• 柔らかやわらかsoft, tender, pliant
• 柔らかいやわらかいsoft, tender, supple
• 柔和にゅうわgentle, mild, meek
• 優柔不断ゆうじゅうふだんindecisive, irresolute, shilly-shally
• 懐柔かいじゅうwinning over, placation, gentle persuasion
• 柔軟体操じゅうなんたいそうcalisthenics