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柔らか (やわらか) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

柔やわらか

や

わ

ら

か

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective

soft; tender; pliant

Describes physical softness, tenderness, or pliability of objects, food, or materials.

このパンはとても柔やわらかで、ふわふわしている。
This bread is very soft and fluffy.
肉にくが柔やわらかくなるまで煮に

込こ

ん

で

ください

。

Simmer until the meat becomes tender.

2

na-adjective

soft; subdued; gentle; mild

Used for non-physical qualities: soft colors, gentle light, mild demeanor, or subdued voice.

彼かの女じょは柔やわらかな口く調ちょうで話はなし始はじめた。
She began to speak in a gentle tone.
この部屋へやは柔やわらかな色いろ合あいでまとめられている。
This room is decorated in soft colors.

3

na-adjective

informal; light; flexible

Describes a flexible, easygoing, or informal approach, often used for thinking, rules, or atmosphere.

彼かれは柔やわらかな考かんがえ方かたの持もち主ぬしだ。
He has a flexible way of thinking.
会かい議ぎは柔やわらかな雰ふん囲い気きで進すすんだ。
The meeting proceeded in a relaxed atmosphere.

Written forms

柔やわらかUsage61%
Most common kanji spelling for all senses; used in high-frequency contexts.
やわらかUsage37%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the nuance is not tied to a specific kanji.
軟やわらかUsage2%
Alternate kanji spelling, often used for physical softness or flexibility.

Kanji

柔tender, weakness, gentleness
軟soft

Similar words

柔やわらかい
柔らかい is the i-adjective form with the same meaning; 柔らか is the na-adjective form, often used in more formal or written contexts.
軟やわらかい
軟らかい is the i-adjective form using the 軟 kanji, emphasizing physical pliability; 柔らか is the na-adjective counterpart.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adjective やはらか (yawaraka), with the root やは- meaning 'soft' or 'gentle'. The kanji 柔 and 軟 both convey softness, with 柔 often implying gentleness and 軟 implying pliability.