柔やわらかい

や

わ

ら

か

い

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

柔らかい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	柔やわらかい	柔やわらかくない
Polite	柔やわらかいです	柔やわらかくないですalso 柔やわらかくありません
Past polite	柔やわらかかったです	柔やわらかくなかったですalso 柔やわらかくありませんでした
Past	柔やわらかかった	柔やわらかくなかった
Te-form	柔やわらかくて	柔やわらかくなくて
Adverbial	柔やわらかく
Conditional	柔やわらかければ	柔やわらかくなければ
Tara conditional	柔やわらかかったら	柔やわらかくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

soft; tender; supple

Describes physical softness, tenderness, or pliability of objects, materials, or body parts.

このパンはとても柔やわらかい。
This bread is very soft.
赤あかちゃんの肌はだは柔やわらかくて気き持もちいい。
A baby's skin is soft and pleasant to touch.

i-adjective

gentle; mild; mellow

Used for gentle, mild, or mellow qualities of light, sound, taste, personality, or atmosphere.

このカレーは辛からくなくて、味あじが柔やわらかい。
This curry isn't spicy; the flavor is mild.
彼かの女じょは柔やわらかい口く調ちょうで話はなした。
She spoke in a gentle tone.

i-adjective

light; informal

Describes content such as books, topics, or conversation that is light, easy, or informal rather than serious or heavy.

旅りょ行こうのガイドブックは柔やわらかい内ない容ようで読よみやすい。
The travel guidebook has light content and is easy to read.

i-adjective

flexible; adaptable; malleable

Used for flexible thinking, open-mindedness, or adaptable attitudes and systems.

彼かれは柔やわらかい考かんがえ方かたを持もっている。
He has a flexible way of thinking.
新あたらしい環かん境きょうに柔やわらかく対たい応おうする。
Adapt flexibly to a new environment.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が柔やわらかいfor something (food, material, body part) to be soft or tender
このステーキはとても柔やわらかい。
This steak is very tender.
〈物もの〉を柔やわらかく煮にるto cook/simmer something until it becomes soft
大だい根こんを柔やわらかく煮にてから味あじ付つけする。
Simmer the daikon until soft, then season it.
柔やわらかい声こえで〈動どう詞し〉to speak/say something in a gentle, soft voice
彼かの女じょは柔やわらかい声こえで話はなしかけてきた。
She spoke to me in a soft, gentle voice.
柔やわらかい〈事こと〉a light, easy, or informal topic/content (as opposed to serious)
たまには柔やわらかい話はなしをして気き分ぶんを変かえよう。
Let's talk about something light for a change to change the mood.

Expressions

柔やわらかな光ひかりsoft light; gentle light
頭あたまが柔やわらかいopen-minded; flexible
頭あたまの柔やわらかいopen-minded; flexible in thinking
物もの腰ごしの柔やわらかいgentle-mannered; soft-spoken; having a gentle demeanor

Kanji

柔tender, weakness, gentleness
軟soft

Related words· 6

柔じゅう軟なんN1sense 4
柔軟 is a noun/adjectival-noun used for flexible thinking, policies, or physical suppleness, while 柔らかい is the everyday i-adjective covering the same idea plus texture, light, and mildness senses.
穏おだやかN3sense 2
穏やか describes a calm, mild personality or atmosphere, close to 柔らかい's gentle-mannered sense but without any physical-softness meaning.
柔じゅう
柔らかい is the everyday adjective meaning 'soft' or 'tender', while 柔 is the abstract noun form used in more formal or philosophical contexts.
ソフトN4
柔らかい is the native Japanese word for something physically soft or supple, while ソフト is a loanword more often used for manner, style, or intensity.

Show 2 more

やわ
柔らかい is the standard i-adjective meaning 'soft', while やわ is a colloquial adjectival noun that adds a nuance of weakness or flimsiness.
しなやかN1
柔らかい is a general i-adjective for softness of texture, while しなやか emphasizes supple, resilient flexibility, as in a body or branch that bends without breaking.

Opposites

硬かたいN4sense 1
硬い describes physical hardness or stiffness, the direct opposite of 柔らかい in the sense of texture or rigidity.
厳きびしいN4sense 2
厳しい describes a strict or harsh manner, the opposite of 柔らかい's gentle, mild sense.
カチカチN1
柔らかい describes something soft and pliable, the opposite of カチカチ describing something dried-out and hard.

Don't confuse with

やんわりN1
やわらかい is an adjective describing physical softness (of an object or texture), while やんわり is an adverb describing a gentle, mild manner of speaking or acting.
和やわらげるN1
柔らかい is an adjective describing physical softness of texture, while 和らげる is a verb meaning to soften pain, tension, or tone, not physical texture.

Word family· 8

柔やわらかN1
soft; tender; pliant · soft; subdued; gentle; mild · informal; light; flexible
手て柔やわらか
gentle; mild; lenient
柔やわらかさ
softness; tenderness
柔やわらかみ
softness; gentleness
柔やわらかめ
softish; on the soft side; somewhat soft

Show 3 more

お手て柔やわらか
gentle; mild; lenient
物もの柔やわらか
mild; gentle; soft-spoken
お手て柔やわらかに
gently; mildly; leniently · go easy on me/us/them; don't be too hard on me

Written forms

柔やわらかいUsage55%
Most common kanji spelling for general softness, tenderness, and flexibility.
やわらかいUsage34%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji nuance is not important.
軟やわらかいUsage9%
Alternative kanji spelling, often used for physical softness or pliability.
柔やわらかいUsage2%
search-only kanji form

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese やはらかし (yawaraka-shi), with the root やわ- related to softness or gentleness. The kanji 柔 and 軟 both convey softness, with 柔 emphasizing pliancy and 軟 emphasizing physical softness.

柔やわらかい

や

わ

ら

か

い

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

柔らかい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	柔やわらかい	柔やわらかくない
Polite	柔やわらかいです	柔やわらかくないですalso 柔やわらかくありません
Past polite	柔やわらかかったです	柔やわらかくなかったですalso 柔やわらかくありませんでした
Past	柔やわらかかった	柔やわらかくなかった
Te-form	柔やわらかくて	柔やわらかくなくて
Adverbial	柔やわらかく
Conditional	柔やわらかければ	柔やわらかくなければ
Tara conditional	柔やわらかかったら	柔やわらかくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

soft; tender; supple

Describes physical softness, tenderness, or pliability of objects, materials, or body parts.

このパンはとても柔やわらかい。
This bread is very soft.
赤あかちゃんの肌はだは柔やわらかくて気き持もちいい。
A baby's skin is soft and pleasant to touch.

i-adjective

gentle; mild; mellow

Used for gentle, mild, or mellow qualities of light, sound, taste, personality, or atmosphere.

このカレーは辛からくなくて、味あじが柔やわらかい。
This curry isn't spicy; the flavor is mild.
彼かの女じょは柔やわらかい口く調ちょうで話はなした。
She spoke in a gentle tone.

i-adjective

light; informal

Describes content such as books, topics, or conversation that is light, easy, or informal rather than serious or heavy.

旅りょ行こうのガイドブックは柔やわらかい内ない容ようで読よみやすい。
The travel guidebook has light content and is easy to read.

i-adjective

flexible; adaptable; malleable

Used for flexible thinking, open-mindedness, or adaptable attitudes and systems.

彼かれは柔やわらかい考かんがえ方かたを持もっている。
He has a flexible way of thinking.
新あたらしい環かん境きょうに柔やわらかく対たい応おうする。
Adapt flexibly to a new environment.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が柔やわらかいfor something (food, material, body part) to be soft or tender
このステーキはとても柔やわらかい。
This steak is very tender.
〈物もの〉を柔やわらかく煮にるto cook/simmer something until it becomes soft
大だい根こんを柔やわらかく煮にてから味あじ付つけする。
Simmer the daikon until soft, then season it.
柔やわらかい声こえで〈動どう詞し〉to speak/say something in a gentle, soft voice
彼かの女じょは柔やわらかい声こえで話はなしかけてきた。
She spoke to me in a soft, gentle voice.
柔やわらかい〈事こと〉a light, easy, or informal topic/content (as opposed to serious)
たまには柔やわらかい話はなしをして気き分ぶんを変かえよう。
Let's talk about something light for a change to change the mood.

Expressions

柔やわらかな光ひかりsoft light; gentle light
頭あたまが柔やわらかいopen-minded; flexible
頭あたまの柔やわらかいopen-minded; flexible in thinking
物もの腰ごしの柔やわらかいgentle-mannered; soft-spoken; having a gentle demeanor

Kanji

柔tender, weakness, gentleness
軟soft

Related words· 6

柔じゅう軟なんN1sense 4
柔軟 is a noun/adjectival-noun used for flexible thinking, policies, or physical suppleness, while 柔らかい is the everyday i-adjective covering the same idea plus texture, light, and mildness senses.
穏おだやかN3sense 2
穏やか describes a calm, mild personality or atmosphere, close to 柔らかい's gentle-mannered sense but without any physical-softness meaning.
柔じゅう
柔らかい is the everyday adjective meaning 'soft' or 'tender', while 柔 is the abstract noun form used in more formal or philosophical contexts.
ソフトN4
柔らかい is the native Japanese word for something physically soft or supple, while ソフト is a loanword more often used for manner, style, or intensity.

Show 2 more

やわ
柔らかい is the standard i-adjective meaning 'soft', while やわ is a colloquial adjectival noun that adds a nuance of weakness or flimsiness.
しなやかN1
柔らかい is a general i-adjective for softness of texture, while しなやか emphasizes supple, resilient flexibility, as in a body or branch that bends without breaking.

Opposites

硬かたいN4sense 1
硬い describes physical hardness or stiffness, the direct opposite of 柔らかい in the sense of texture or rigidity.
厳きびしいN4sense 2
厳しい describes a strict or harsh manner, the opposite of 柔らかい's gentle, mild sense.
カチカチN1
柔らかい describes something soft and pliable, the opposite of カチカチ describing something dried-out and hard.

Don't confuse with

やんわりN1
やわらかい is an adjective describing physical softness (of an object or texture), while やんわり is an adverb describing a gentle, mild manner of speaking or acting.
和やわらげるN1
柔らかい is an adjective describing physical softness of texture, while 和らげる is a verb meaning to soften pain, tension, or tone, not physical texture.

Word family· 8

柔やわらかN1
soft; tender; pliant · soft; subdued; gentle; mild · informal; light; flexible
手て柔やわらか
gentle; mild; lenient
柔やわらかさ
softness; tenderness
柔やわらかみ
softness; gentleness
柔やわらかめ
softish; on the soft side; somewhat soft

Show 3 more

お手て柔やわらか
gentle; mild; lenient
物もの柔やわらか
mild; gentle; soft-spoken
お手て柔やわらかに
gently; mildly; leniently · go easy on me/us/them; don't be too hard on me

Written forms

柔やわらかいUsage55%
Most common kanji spelling for general softness, tenderness, and flexibility.
やわらかいUsage34%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji nuance is not important.
軟やわらかいUsage9%
Alternative kanji spelling, often used for physical softness or pliability.
柔やわらかいUsage2%
search-only kanji form