弱 — Weak, Feeble, Delicate

Meaning

The kanji 弱じゃく primarily signifies weakness, feebleness, or delicacy. It describes a lack of strength, power, or resilience. This can manifest physically, mentally, or in terms of intensity. It can also refer to something that isn't strong, is easily broken, or lacks ability. For instance, 弱い人よわいひと (yowai hito) refers to a weak person, while 弱い風よわいかぜ (yowai kaze) means a weak wind.

The kanji's origin is quite evocative. It's believed to be a pictograph or ideograph depicting a person or object in a state of yielding or bending. Some etymologists suggest it represents two 弓ゆみ (yumi, bows) placed together, symbolizing a lack of tension or strength compared to a single taut bow. Another interpretation suggests a person with bent or struggling arms, indicating a lack of physical prowess. Regardless of its exact origin, the visual components of the kanji—its slightly curved and 'collapsing' strokes—effectively convey softness, fragility, or a sense of being easily overcome.

This 10-stroke kanji is taught in the second grade of Japanese elementary schools, highlighting its foundational importance. For JLPT learners, 弱 is categorized as an N4 kanji, making it crucial for achieving intermediate Japanese proficiency.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The On'yomi reading for 弱じゃく is ジャク (jaku). You'll typically find this reading in compound words, especially those with Chinese origins. It frequently denotes a state of inferiority, a minor degree, or a general lack of something.

弱点じゃくてん (jakuten) — A weak point, a drawback, a vulnerability. This refers to an area where something or someone lacks strength.
弱者じゃくしゃ (jakusha) — The weak, a weak person. This term collectively refers to individuals or groups who are considered vulnerable or lacking power in society.
弱化じゃっか (jakka) — Weakening, debilitation, attenuation. This noun or suru-verb describes the process of becoming weaker or making something weaker.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations associated with the kanji, often functioning as adjectives or verbs. The kanji 弱じゃく has several key Kun'yomi readings that are widely used:

よわ.い (yowai) — This is the adjectival form, meaning 'weak', 'feeble', 'frail', or 'not strong'. It's one of the most common ways to use this kanji.
弱いよわい (yowai) — weak (e.g., 体が弱いからだがよわい: a weak body)
気が弱いきがよわい (kiga yowai) — timid, fainthearted, easily discouraged.
よわ.る (yowaru) — This intransitive verb means 'to weaken,' 'to get feeble,' 'to be troubled,' or 'to be disheartened.' It describes a deteriorating state of strength or spirit.
弱るよわる (yowaru) — to weaken, to become feeble (e.g., 病気で弱るびょうきでよわる: to weaken due to illness)
困って弱るこまってよわる (komatte yowaru) — to be troubled and distressed.
よわ.まる (yowamaru) — Similar to 弱るよわる, this intransitive verb means 'to weaken,' 'to subside,' or 'to diminish.' It often implies a gradual decrease in intensity or strength.
弱まるよわまる (yowamaru) — to weaken, to subside (e.g., 風が弱まるかぜがよわまる: the wind subsides)
痛みが弱まるいたみがよわまる (itami ga yowamaru) — the pain lessens.
よわ.める (yowameru) — This transitive verb means 'to weaken (something),' 'to dim,' or 'to lower (intensity).' It describes the act of making something weaker.
弱めるよわめる (yowameru) — to weaken, to dim (e.g., 光を弱めるひかりをよわめる: to dim the light)
火を弱めるひをよわめる (hi o yowameru) — to lower the flame.

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 弱じゃく forms a wide array of compound words, each expressing different nuances of weakness, inferiority, or a reduced state. Mastering these compounds is essential for grasping the full scope of 弱じゃく.

General Weakness:
弱点じゃくてん (jakuten) — weak point, drawback
弱気よわき (yowaki) — timid, fainthearted, pessimistic (can also be read as 弱気じゃっき for weak spirit, but よわきよわき is more common)
弱者じゃくしゃ (jakusha) — the weak, a weak person
弱腰よわごし (yowagoshi) — weak-kneed, timid stance or attitude
Actions of Weakening:
弱るよわる (yowaru) — to weaken, to get feeble (intransitive)
弱まるよわまる (yowamaru) — to weaken, to subside (intransitive)
弱めるよわめる (yowameru) — to weaken, to dim (transitive)
弱化じゃっか (jakka) — weakening, debilitation
Specific Contexts of Weakness:
弱肉強食じゃくにくきょうしょく (jakunikukyōshoku) — the law of the jungle (lit. the weak are meat, the strong eat)
弱音よわね (yowane) — complaint, groan, expression of weakness (e.g., 弱音を吐くよわねをはく: to complain, to express weakness)
弱視じゃくし (jakushi) — amblyopia, weak eyesight
弱電じゃくでん (jakuden) — low voltage electricity
弱小じゃくしょう (jakushō) — small and weak, minor (e.g., 弱小チームじゃくしょうチーム: a weak team)

Example Sentences

あの子こは体からだが弱よわいので、よく風邪かぜをひきます。

Ano ko wa karada ga yowai node, yoku kaze o hikimasu.

That child has a weak body, so they often catch colds.

風かぜが弱よわまって、雨あめもやみました。

Kaze ga yowamatte, ame mo yamimashita.

The wind weakened, and the rain also stopped.

この機械きかいの弱点じゃくてんは耐久性たいきゅうせいがないことです。

Kono kikai no jakuten wa taikyūsei ga nai koto desu.

This machine's weak point is its lack of durability.

年としを取とると足腰あしこしが弱よわるのが普通ふつうです。

Toshi o toru to ashikoshi ga yowaru no ga futsū desu.

It's normal for one's legs and back to weaken as they get older.

日差ひざしが強つよすぎるので、ブラインドを弱よわめてください。

Hizashi ga tsuyosugiru node, buraindo o yowamete kudasai.

The sunlight is too strong, so please dim the blinds.

試合しあいの後あと、勝者しょうしゃは弱者じゃくしゃに敬意けいいを払はらいました。

Shiai no ato, shōsha wa jakusha ni keii o haraimashita.

After the match, the winner paid respect to the weaker opponent.

彼かれは何度なんども弱音よわねを吐はいたが、最後さいごまで諦あきらめなかった。

Kare wa nando mo yowane o haita ga, saigo made akiramenakatta.

He complained many times but didn't give up until the end.

弱肉強食じゃくにくきょうしょくの世界せかいでは、生いき残のこるのが大変たいへんだ。

Jakunikukyōshoku no sekai de wa, ikinokoru no ga taihen da.

In a world governed by the law of the jungle, it's tough to survive.

子犬こいぬはまだまだ弱よわいので、優やさしく扱あつかう必要ひつようがあります。

Koinu wa mada yowai node, yasashiku atsukau hitsuyō ga arimasu.

The puppy is still weak, so it needs to be handled gently.

この薬くすりは体からだの抵抗力ていこうりょくを弱よわめてしまう可能性かのうせいがある。

Kono kusuri wa karada no teikōryoku o yowamete shimau kanōsei ga aru.

This medicine might weaken the body's resistance.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

To remember 弱じゃく, start with its radical: 弓ゆみ (bow). Imagine a bow that's weak and unable to shoot an arrow far. Notice that the top part of 弱じゃく somewhat resembles a person bent over, while the bottom part is the 弓ゆみ radical. Picture a weak person struggling to hold a bow, or a bowstring so weak it can barely form its shape. This imagery should evoke a sense of frailty and lack of power, directly linking to its core meaning of 'weakness'.