ChiramiN4 kanji · 10 strokes
弱 means weak
弓 a bow · 冫 ice · 弓 a bow · 冫 ice
弱Memory trick
Two bows (弓) with frozen strings: weak.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- weak, frail
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 10
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) よわい yowai
よわい (yowai) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: よわる yowaru, よわまる yowamaru, よわめる yowameru
From Chinese (onyomi) ジャク jaku
ジャク (jaku) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
弱い よわい · yowai
weak, frail
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
弓 Used in 16 kanji
See all 4 at N5 and N4冫 Used in 35 kanji
See all 4 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 弱 mean?
Right: 弱 means weak.Not quite: 弱 means weak.In 弱い, which reading does 弱 use?
Right. 弱い is read よわい (yowai): 弱 takes よわ, its Japanese reading, with い after it.Not quite. 弱い is read よわい (yowai): 弱 takes よわ, its Japanese reading, with い after it.