Readings: ジュウ (Onyomi), やわ-らか, やわ-らかい, やわ-らぐ, やわ-らげる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: gentle, tender, soft, yielding
The kanji 柔 combines 矛 (hoko – spear, suggesting strength or rigidity) and 夭 (yō – young, delicate, slender). Together, they depict something that is not rigid like a spear, but rather pliable, yielding, or soft, like a young, delicate plant or person. This combination expresses the concept of softness and adaptability.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 柔 consists of 9 strokes. Start with the strokes on the left radical (矛), drawing the horizontal, then the vertical, then the short diagonal, followed by the left-to-right diagonal, and finally the hook. Then, for the right part (夭), draw the long horizontal stroke, followed by the two diagonals crossing it, and finally the last vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 矛 (ほこ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ジュウ (jū)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- やわらか (yawarakai)
- やわらぐ (yawara-gu)
- やわらげる (yawara-geru)
Common Words Using 柔
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 柔道 | じゅうどう | judo |
| 柔軟 | じゅうなん | flexible; soft; pliable |
| 柔術 | じゅうじゅつ | jujutsu |
| 柔和 | にゅうわ | gentle; mild; meek |
| 柔弱 | じゅうじゃく | weak; effeminate; delicate |
| 柔道着 | じゅうどうぎ | judo uniform |
| 柔毛 | じゅうもう | soft hair; down |
| 柔構造 | じゅうこうぞう | flexible structure |
| 柔順 | じゅうじゅん | obedient; docile |
| 柔兵器 | じゅうへいき | soft weapon |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 柔らかい | やわらかい | soft; tender; flexible |
| 柔らか | やわらか | softness; tenderness (noun/adverbial) |
| 柔らかな | やわらかな | soft; tender (na-adjective) |
| 柔らぐ | やわらぐ | to soften; to abate; to relax (intransitive) |
| 柔らげる | やわらげる | to soften; to moderate; to ease (transitive) |
| 柔らかな手 | やわらかなて | soft hand |
| 柔らかな光 | やわらかなひかり | soft light |
| 柔らかな声 | やわらかなこえ | soft voice |
| 肌が柔らかい | はだがやわらかい | skin is soft |
| 柔らかなパン | やわらかなぱん | soft bread |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 柔道は心身を鍛える武道です。
Kana: じゅうどうはしんしんをきたえるぶどうです。
Romaji: Jūdō wa shinshin o kitaeru budō desu.
English: Judo is a martial art that trains the mind and body.
Japanese: このパンはとても柔らかい。
Kana: このパンはとてもやわらかい。
Romaji: Kono pan wa totemo yawarakai.
English: This bread is very soft.
Japanese: 彼の話し方はとても柔和だ。
Kana: かれのはなしかたはとてもにゅうわだ。
Romaji: Kare no hanashikata wa totemo nyūwa da.
English: His way of speaking is very gentle.
Japanese: 固い土が雨で柔らいだ。
Kana: かたいつちがあめでやわらいだ。
Romaji: Katai tsuchi ga ame de yawaraida.
English: The hard soil softened with the rain.
Japanese: 痛みを和らげる薬を飲んだ。
Kana: いたみをやわらげるくすりをのんだ。
Romaji: Itami o yawarageru kusuri o nonda.
English: I took medicine to ease the pain.
Japanese: 彼女の心は子供の笑顔で柔らいだ。
Kana: かのじょのこころはこどものえがおでやわらいだ。
Romaji: Kanojo no kokoro wa kodomo no egao de yawaraida.
English: Her heart softened with the child’s smile.
Japanese: 柔軟な思考が必要です。
Kana: じゅうなんなしこうがひつようです。
Romaji: Jūnan na shikō ga hitsuyō desu.
English: Flexible thinking is necessary.
Japanese: 柔らかな日差しが部屋に差し込む。
Kana: やわらかなひざしがへやにさしこむ。
Romaji: Yawarakana hizashi ga heya ni sashikomu.
English: Soft sunlight streams into the room.
Japanese: 柔術は日本の伝統的な武術です。
Kana: じゅうじゅつはにほんのでんとうてきなぶじゅつです。
Romaji: Jūjutsu wa Nihon no dentōteki na bujutsu desu.
English: Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art.
Japanese: その生地は触り心地が柔らかい。
Kana: そのきじはさわりごこちがやわらかい。
Romaji: Sono kiji wa sawarigokochi ga yawarakai.
English: The texture of that fabric is soft to the touch.
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