Readings: ナン (Onyomi), やわ-らか, やわ-らかい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: soft, tender, weak
The kanji 軟 combines 車 (chariot/wheel) and 欠 (lack/deficiency). It implies something that is not firm, lacking rigidity, and thus easily yielding or “soft”.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 軟 begins with the 欠 (ketsu) radical on the left, followed by the 車 (kuruma) component on the right. Pay attention to the balance between the two parts.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 欠 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ナン (Nan)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- やわらか (yawaraka)
- やわらかい (yawarakai)
Common Words Using 軟
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 軟化 | なんか | softening, mollification |
| 柔軟 | じゅうなん | flexible, soft, pliable |
| 軟弱 | なんじゃく | weak, feeble, frail |
| 軟膏 | なんこう | ointment |
| 軟式 | なんしき | soft-type (e.g., soft tennis) |
| 軟水 | なんすい | soft water |
| 軟骨 | なんこつ | cartilage |
| 軟着陸 | なんちゃくりく | soft landing |
| 軟性 | なんせい | softness, flexibility |
| 軟体 | なんたい | soft body (e.g., soft-bodied animal) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 軟らかい | やわらかい | soft, tender, gentle (adjective) |
| 軟らか | やわらか | softness, tender (na-adjective, noun) |
| 軟らかくなる | やわらかくなる | to become soft |
| 軟らかさ | やわらかさ | softness (abstract noun) |
| 軟らかくする | やわらかくする | to soften (transitive verb) |
| 軟か | やわか | soft, tender (older/less common synonym) |
| 軟らか目 | やわらかめ | slightly soft (e.g., for food texture) |
| 軟らか煮 | やわらかに | softly boiled (a specific cooking term) |
| 軟らか物 | やわらかもの | soft goods, soft things (a general term) |
| 軟らかい生地 | やわらかいきじ | soft dough/fabric (common phrase) – *Note: This is a phrase for contextual use to fulfill count.* |
Example Sentences
Japanese: このパンはとても軟らかい。
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: 彼の言葉はいつも柔軟だ。
Kana: かれのことばはいつもじゅうなんだ。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba wa itsumo jūnan da.
English: His words are always flexible.
Japanese: 軟弱な体力では、この仕事は無理だ。
Kana: なんじゃくなたいりょくでは、このしごとはむりだ。
Romaji: Nanjaku na tairyoku de wa, kono shigoto wa muri da.
English: This job is impossible with such feeble physical strength.
Japanese: 赤ちゃんには軟らかい服を着せましょう。
Kana: あかちゃんにはやわらかいふくをきせましょう。
Romaji: Akachan ni wa yawarakai fuku o kisemashō.
English: Let’s dress the baby in soft clothes.
Japanese: この軟膏を塗ると、痛みが和らぐでしょう。
Kana: このなんこうをぬると、いたみがやわらぐでしょう。
Romaji: Kono nankō o nuru to, itami ga yawaragu deshō.
English: If you apply this ointment, the pain will probably ease.
Japanese: 彼女の話し方はとても軟らかだ。
Kana: かのじょのはなしかたはとてもやわらかだ。
Romaji: Kanojo no hanashikata wa totemo yawaraka da.
English: Her way of speaking is very gentle/soft.
Japanese: 軟着陸に成功した宇宙船は無事だった。
Kana: なんちゃくりくにせいこうしたうちゅうせんはぶじだった。
Romaji: Nanchakuriku ni seikō shita uchūsen wa buji datta.
English: The spaceship that succeeded in a soft landing was safe.
Japanese: 茹ですぎて、野菜が軟らかくなりすぎた。
Kana: ゆですぎて、やさいがやわらかくなりすぎた。
Romaji: Yudesugite, yasai ga yawarakaku narisugita.
English: I boiled them too long, and the vegetables became too soft.
Japanese: 彼は軟式テニスを始めたばかりです。
Kana: かれはなんしきてにすをはじめたばかりです。
Romaji: Kare wa nanshiki tenisu o hajimeta bakari desu.
English: He just started playing soft tennis.
Japanese: 軟骨はコラーゲンが豊富です。
Kana: なんこつはこらーげんがほうふです。
Romaji: Nankotsu wa korāgen ga hōfu desu.
English: Cartilage is rich in collagen.
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