耎 (ruǎn) - Soft & weak

耎Tone 3

ruǎn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

儒三

耎 · ruǎn

Soft;

weak;

yielding;

pliable;

used to describe something soft or weak in character or substance.

Softweakyielding

Usage highlights

Soft and weakSoft and yieldingWeak characterSoft fleshYielding and softWeak and timid

Synonyms

  • 柔— soft; gentle
  • 弱— weak; feeble
  • 软— soft; flexible

Antonyms

  • 刚— hard; firm
  • 强— strong; powerful
  • 硬— hard; stiff

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The material is soft and pliable (耎弱).
  • He has a weak character (性格耎弱).
  • The ancient text describes it as soft and yielding (柔耎).

Collocations

  • Soft and weak(耎弱)
  • Soft and yielding(柔耎)
  • Weak character(性耎)
  • Soft flesh(肉耎)
  • Yielding and soft(耎脆)
  • Weak and timid(怯耎)

Idioms

  • Soft and weak without backbone(耎弱无骨)
  • Yielding character easily influenced(性耎易动)
  • Soft flesh and weak bones(肉耎骨弱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese medicine, describes soft tissues or weak constitutions.
  • Used in historical texts to characterize timid or easily influenced personalities.
  • Appears in ancient philosophical discussions about contrasting hard/soft qualities.

FAQ