Meaning & readings
weak, frail
On’yomi ジャク
Kun’yomi よわ.い、よわ.る、よわ.まる、よわ.める
Origin
This character appears to depict a person or figure in a bent or drooping posture. The left side suggests a human form, while the right side shows strokes that curve or bend downward, as if representing someone weakened or lacking strength in their limbs. Over time, this visual image of a stooped or feeble figure became the standard way to write the word for "weak" or "frail." The shape essentially captures the physical appearance of someone who lacks vigor or is exhausted.
AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Pictographic or simple.
Components
This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (弱).
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 10
- Kangxi radical
- 57
- Grade
- Grade 2 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #958 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 3
- Unicode
- U+05F31