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N2

Kanji 弱: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 弱: weak, frail

Key takeaways

Kanji 弱: weak, frail. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N2

Meaning

weakfrail

On reading

ジャク

Kun reading

よわ.いよわ.るよわ.まるよわ.める

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 弱

weak, frail

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

弓 + 冫

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine ice (冫) forming on a bow (弓). A frozen bow loses its flexibility and becomes 'weak' or 'frail', easily snapping under pressure.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ジャク
  • じゃく

    weakness / weak / slightly less

  • 薄弱はくじゃく

    weakness / feebleness / lack of strength

  • 貧弱ひんじゃく

    poor / weak / insufficient

  • 弱点じゃくてん

    weakness / weak point

Kun reading

よわ.い
  • 弱まるよわまる

    to weaken / to lessen / to decline

  • 弱めるよわめる

    to weaken / reduce strength

  • 弱るよわる

    to weaken / to be troubled / to be dejected

  • 弱いよわい

    weak, not strong

Commonly used words

  • じゃく

    weakness / weak / slightly less

  • 薄弱
    はくじゃく

    weakness / feebleness / lack of strength

  • 貧弱
    ひんじゃく

    poor / weak / insufficient

  • 弱点
    じゃくてん

    weakness / weak point

  • 弱まる
    よわまる

    to weaken / to lessen / to decline

  • 弱める
    よわめる

    to weaken / reduce strength

  • 弱る
    よわる

    to weaken / to be troubled / to be dejected

  • 弱い
    よわい

    weak, not strong

Example sentences

Example 1

彼は体がいです。

Translation

He is physically weak.

Example 2

今年の成績は去年よりい。

Translation

This year’s results are weaker than last year’s.

Example 3

彼の体は薄で病気がちだ。

Translation

His body is weak and often sick.

Example 4

議論の薄な根拠を見抜いた。

Translation

I saw through the weak basis of the argument.

Kanji 弱: weak, frail | Daily Nihongo