柔
tender · weakness · gentleness · softness
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of spear and tree. Tree bending like spear.
Symbolism
Judo, flexible, soft. Represents suppleness.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Acknowledging weakness
Component Breakdown
矛 + tree
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
外柔内剛
がいじゅうないごう
gentle but firm
優柔不断
ゆうじゅうふだん
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally
内柔外剛
ないじゅうがいごう
tough on the outside but soft at heart
外剛内柔
がいごうないじゅう
being tough on the outside but soft at heart; a faint-hearted person pretending to be brave
内剛外柔
ないごうがいじゅう
gentle on the outside but tough on the inside; an iron hand in a velvet glove
Proverbs & Idioms
柔よく剛を制す
じゅうよくごうをせいす
Softness overcomes hardness
Flexibility defeats rigidity
Other kanji with the same meaning
“gentleness”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 柔 mean in Japanese?
柔 means tender, weakness, gentleness, softness.
How do you read 柔?
On'yomi: ジュウ、ニュウ (JUU, NYUU). Kun'yomi: やわ.らか、やわ.らかい、やわ、やわ.ら (yawaraka, yawarakai, yawa, yawara).
How many strokes does 柔 have?
柔 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 木 (tree).
Is 柔 a good kanji for a tattoo?
柔 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means tender, weakness, gentleness, softness. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:gentleness