柔にゅう和わ

にゅ

う

わ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Describes a person's character, expression, or manner as soft, kind, and not harsh. Often used for a calm and approachable demeanor.

彼かの女じょは柔にゅう和わな笑え顔がおで迎むかえてくれた。
She greeted me with a gentle smile.
祖そ父ふは柔にゅう和わな性せい格かくで、誰だれからも好すかれた。
My grandfather had a mild personality and was liked by everyone.

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Usage patterns

柔にゅう和わな表ひょう情じょうa gentle expression
彼かの女じょはいつも柔にゅう和わな表ひょう情じょうを浮うかべている。
She always has a gentle expression on her face.
柔にゅう和わな人ひと柄がらa gentle, mild personality
先せん生せいは柔にゅう和わな人ひと柄がらで生せい徒とたちに親したしまれている。
The teacher is loved by the students for his gentle personality.
柔にゅう和わな笑えみa gentle smile
老ろう人じんは柔にゅう和わな笑えみを浮うかべて子こ供どもたちを見みていた。
The old man watched the children with a gentle smile.
柔にゅう和わな目めつきa gentle look in one's eyes
彼かれの柔にゅう和わな目めつきに安あん心しんした。
I felt at ease because of the gentle look in his eyes.

Kanji

柔tender, weakness, gentleness
和harmony, Japanese style, peace

Related words

優やさしいN5
優しい is the everyday word for being kind or gentle, while 柔和 is a more formal, literary term describing a soft, calm quality in someone's character or expression.
温おん和わN1
温和 is often used for mild climates or even tempers in general, while 柔和 focuses specifically on a gentle, soft quality in a person's face or manner.
穏おだやかN3
穏やか describes calmness and lack of agitation broadly (weather, personality, seas), while 柔和 more narrowly describes a soft, kind quality in expression or demeanor.
温おん厚こうN2
温厚 emphasizes a warm, good-natured, unlikely-to-anger personality, while 柔和 emphasizes outward softness of expression and manner.
柔じゅう
柔和 describes a person's gentle, mild temperament, whereas 柔 is the broader abstract quality of softness or pliability itself.

Opposites

険けわしいN2
険しい describes a harsh, sharp, or stern expression, the direct opposite of the soft, gentle look described by 柔和.
厳きびしいN4
厳しい describes a strict or severe manner or personality, contrasting with the soft, kind manner described by 柔和.

Etymology

Composed of 柔 (soft, gentle) and 和 (harmony, peace). The combination conveys a sense of soft harmony, reflecting the word's meaning of gentle and mild demeanor.