柔
tender, weakness, gentleness, softness
Readings
On'yomi
- ジュウ
- ニュウ
Kun'yomi
- やわ.らか
- やわ.らかい
- やわ
- やわ.ら
Nanori
- とお
Meaning
柔 centers on a yielding, pliable quality: something tender, soft, or gentle. The weakness sense is a natural extension of lacking rigid strength.
Most common words using 柔
20 of 63- 柔らかいやわらかいN4
soft; tender; supple; flexible; limber; limp
- 柔道じゅうどうN5
judo
- 柔軟じゅうなんN1
flexible; lithe; soft; pliable
- 柔らかやわらかN1
soft; tender; pliant; supple
- 柔じゅう
softness; gentleness; weakness
- 柔やわ
soft; weak; fragile; poorly built; insubstantial
- 優柔不断ゆうじゅうふだん
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally; vacillating
- 柔んわりやんわりN1
softly; mildly; gently; politely
- 懐柔かいじゅう
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
- 柔術じゅうじゅつ
jujitsu (martial art); jiujitsu; jujutsu
- 柔いやわい
soft
- 柔和にゅうわ
gentle; mild; meek; tender
- 柔肌やわはだ
soft fair skin
- 柔軟体操じゅうなんたいそう
calisthenics
- お手柔らかおてやわらか
gentle; mild; lenient
- お手柔らかにおてやわらかに
gently; mildly; leniently
- もの柔らかものやわらか
mild; mild-mannered; gentle
- グレイシー柔術グレイシーじゅうじゅつ
Brazilian jiu-jitsu; Gracie-style jiu-jitsu
- ブラジリアン柔術ブラジリアンじゅうじゅつ
Brazilian jiu-jitsu; BJJ
- 優柔ゆうじゅう
indecisive; irresolute; weak
Study
Etymology
柔 combines 矛 (a spear or halberd) with 木 (tree/wood). The spear over wood likely suggests a flexible wooden shaft, giving the idea of pliancy and softness.
Meaning mnemonic
A spear 矛 resting on a tree 木: the wooden shaft bends without breaking, showing tenderness and softness.
Reading mnemonic
For ジュウ, imagine a jeweler gently bending a soft gold ring: jew -> ジュウ, and the ring yields tenderly.