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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
tender · weakness · gentleness · softness
peaceful
Details
Strokes9
Frequency#1187
Radical木tree(4)
Stroke Order
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Strokes9
Component Breakdown
柔=
矛木
矛 + tree
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of spear and tree. Tree bending like spear.
Symbolism
Judo, flexible, soft. Represents suppleness.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Acknowledging weakness
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
外柔内剛
がいじゅうないごう
gentle but firm; gentle but firm
優柔不断
ゆうじゅうふだん
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally; indecisive
内柔外剛
ないじゅうがいごう
tough on the outside but soft at heart; 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; being tough on the outside but soft at heart
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; gentle on the outside but tough on the inside
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