弱
Meanings
1
a little less than; slightly under
Suffix attached to numbers or quantities to mean 'a little less than' or 'slightly fewer than'. Antonym: 強 (きょう).
Antonyms: 強
This venue holds a little under 100 people.
It takes slightly less than 10 minutes to walk to the station.
3
Suffix used after a number on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale to indicate the lower grade of that intensity (e.g., 5弱 is 'lower 5'). Antonym: 強 (きょう).
Antonyms: 強
An earthquake with a seismic intensity of lower 5 occurred.
Usage patterns
- 〈数〉弱a little less than <number>
The meeting ended in a little under an hour.
- 〈物〉を弱にするto set a device to a low/weak setting
It was hot, so I set the air conditioner to a low setting.
- 震度〈数〉弱seismic intensity lower <number>
This earthquake registered a lower intensity of 5.