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On'yomi
ジャク
JAKU
Kun'yomi
よわ.い・よわ.る・よわ.まる・よわ.める
yowai / yowaru / yowamaru / yowameru

weak · frail

Details

Strokes10
Frequency#958
Radicalbow(3)

Stroke Order

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Strokes10

Component Breakdown

=

bow + 冫

Cultural Context

Etymology

Two bows representing flexible bows. Weak.

Symbolism

Weakness, weak point, debility. Represents lack of power.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Acknowledging weakness

Anime & Manga

弱虫ペダル

Yowamushi Pedal(2008)

anime/manga

Story of a 'weak' otaku boy growing through cycling.

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Games

アンダーテール

Undertale(2015)

全プラットフォーム

Developer: Toby Fox

RPG where a 'weak' human fights in a world of monsters.

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

意志薄弱

いしはくじゃく

weak-willed; lacking a purpose; lacking will power to be patient, purposeful, or resolute; weak-willed

弱肉強食

じゃくにくきょうしょく

the law of the jungle; the strong prey on the weak; the weak become the victim of the strong; the law of the jungle

心神耗弱

しんしんこうじゃく

diminished capacity; diminished responsibility; legally unaccountable (e.g. due to mental illness, drugs, alcohol, etc.); diminished capacity

薄志弱行

はくしじゃっこう

infirm of purpose and lacking in decision; infirm of purpose and lacking in decision

一強多弱

いっきょうたじゃく

one strong, many weak; one strong, many weak

一強皆弱

いっきょうかいじゃく

one strong, everyone else weak; one strong, everyone else weak

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

玉のをよ たえなばたえね ながらへば 忍ぶることの 弱りもぞする

Poem #89 from Hyakunin Isshu

式子内親王Shikishi Naishinnō
12th century