たおやか

た

お

や

か

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

graceful; willowy; soft and tender

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person, especially a woman, or a movement that is elegantly slender, supple, and gentle. Often used in literary or poetic contexts.

彼かの女じょのたおやかな立たち居い振ふる舞まいに見みとれた。
I was captivated by her graceful bearing.
風かぜに揺ゆれる柳やなぎの枝えだはたおやかだ。
The willow branches swaying in the wind are willowy and soft.

Kanji

嫋supple, pliant, delicate

Related words

優ゆう雅が
優雅 is a more common word for 'elegant' or 'graceful' and can describe a wider range of refined things, while たおやか specifically emphasizes a slender, supple, and tender gracefulness, often with a literary feel.
しなやか
しなやか means 'supple' or 'flexible' and can refer to both physical flexibility and mental resilience. たおやか focuses more on a delicate, graceful softness and is less about resilience.

Written forms

たおやかUsage96%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 嫋やか is rare.
嫋たおやかUsage4%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners will almost always encounter the kana spelling.

Etymology

Developed from the older form たわやか, denoting something flexible, delicate, or graceful.