taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Literary or formal bound form, typically appearing in compounds or as a taru-adjective/adverb with たる/と. Describes physical softness or metaphorical gentleness/pliability.
His attitude is soft yet overcomes the hard.
The spring breeze blows gently.
seducer; playboy; ladies' man · picking up women; hitting on women · moderate party; moderate faction · social story; society columnist · bearish trader; bear
flexible; pliable; soft · calisthenics
soft type; soft-style
cartilage; gristle · nankotsu; deep-fried chicken cartilage
weak; feeble; soft
ointment; salve
house arrest; confinement to one's residence
softening; becoming soft · softening (of attitude); mollification · weakening (of the market) · blanching (of vegetables)
flexible body; agile physique
soft water
soft; soft quality
soft landing
hardness and softness; hard line and moderate line
mild steel
loose stool; soft stool
weak; bearish · soft; low-contrast
softness; flexibility; elasticity
soft paper ticket; train ticket on soft paper
soft pitch; slow pitch
softwood
softwood
soft ray (of a fin)
vellus hair; peach fuzz; down · pubescence
sludge; ooze
bituminous coal; soft coal
nephrite
soft ball; rubber ball
The kanji 軟 is of Chinese origin, meaning 'soft' or 'pliable'. The reading なん is the on'yomi, used in compounds and literary contexts. The exact historical derivation of this bound form is uncertain.