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What is the Kanji for 'Soft' and 'Gentle'? | 柔

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Soft' and 'Gentle', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Soft' and 'Gentle' is 柔.

    kanji

    柔

    Meaning

    Soft, Gentle

    Reading

    kunyomiやわ

    yawa

    onyomiじゅう

    juu

    にゅう

    nyuu

    Parts

    矛Halberd 木Tree, Wood

    Example Word

    柔道: judo. The Japanese noun '柔道 (じゅうどう)' refers to the martial art of judo, which originated in Japan. Judo emphasizes using an opponent's strength and momentum against them, focusing on throws, pins, and joint locks rather than strikes. It is both a competitive sport and a method of physical and mental training. Example sentences: I practice judo「私は柔道を練習します」(わたしはじゅうどうをれんしゅうします). Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art「柔道は日本の伝統的な武道です」(じゅうどうはにほんのでんとうてきなぶどうです).

    Radical

    木

    Stroke Count

    9

    JLPT

    N2

    Grade

    7

    Frequency

    1246

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 柔

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    矛

    Meaning

    Halberd

    kanji

    木

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

Words Using 柔

This kanji is used in 4 words:

    word

    柔らか

    Meaning

    Soft

    word

    柔軟

    Meaning

    Flexible

    word

    柔道

    Meaning

    Judo

    word

    柔らかい

    Meaning

    Soft

Kanji Related to 柔 Through the Part 木

These 96 kanji contain the part 木 as well.

    kanji

    横

    Meaning

    Sideways

    kanji

    棒

    Meaning

    Pole, Bar

    kanji

    検

    Meaning

    Examine

    kanji

    様

    Meaning

    Way, Form

    kanji

    米

    Meaning

    Rice

    kanji

    植

    Meaning

    Plant

    kanji

    柳

    Meaning

    Willow

    kanji

    杯

    Meaning

    Cup, Cupfuls

    kanji

    株

    Meaning

    Shares, Stocks

    kanji

    模

    Meaning

    Imitation

    kanji

    根

    Meaning

    Root

    kanji

    棋

    Meaning

    Oriental chess, Chess piece

    kanji

    暦

    Meaning

    Calendar, Almanac

    kanji

    枕

    Meaning

    Pillow

    kanji

    刹

    Meaning

    Temple

    kanji

    柄

    Meaning

    Design, Handle

    kanji

    果

    Meaning

    Fruit

    kanji

    欄

    Meaning

    Column

    kanji

    朽

    Meaning

    Rot, Decay

    kanji

    桑

    Meaning

    Mulberry

    kanji

    杉

    Meaning

    Cedar, Cryptomeria

    kanji

    札

    Meaning

    Tag, Bill

    kanji

    栓

    Meaning

    Plug, Stopper

    kanji

    条

    Meaning

    Clause

    kanji

    殺

    Meaning

    Kill

    kanji

    相

    Meaning

    Mutual

    kanji

    机

    Meaning

    Desk, Table

    kanji

    休

    Meaning

    Rest

    kanji

    概

    Meaning

    In general, Approximation

    kanji

    校

    Meaning

    School

    kanji

    桜

    Meaning

    Cherry

    kanji

    楷

    Meaning

    Square character style, Correctness

    kanji

    椎

    Meaning

    Oak tree, Oak

    kanji

    閑

    Meaning

    Quiet, Leisure

    kanji

    鬱

    Meaning

    Gloom

    kanji

    染

    Meaning

    Dye

    kanji

    床

    Meaning

    Bed, Floor

    kanji

    査

    Meaning

    Investigate

    kanji

    枝

    Meaning

    Branch

    kanji

    標

    Meaning

    Signpost, Mark

    kanji

    材

    Meaning

    Materials, Timber

    kanji

    楼

    Meaning

    Watchtower, Tall building

    kanji

    采

    Meaning

    Grab

    kanji

    歴

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    桁

    Meaning

    Girder

    kanji

    枚

    Meaning

    Flat, Counter

    kanji

    東

    Meaning

    East

    kanji

    板

    Meaning

    Board

    kanji

    某

    Meaning

    A certain

    kanji

    栽

    Meaning

    Plant, Planting

    kanji

    困

    Meaning

    Trouble, Distress

    kanji

    柵

    Meaning

    Palisade

    kanji

    栄

    Meaning

    Prosper, Flourish

    kanji

    本

    Meaning

    Book, Origin

    kanji

    棺

    Meaning

    Coffin, Casket

    kanji

    栃

    Meaning

    Horse chestnut

    kanji

    枠

    Meaning

    Frame

    kanji

    茶

    Meaning

    Tea

    kanji

    格

    Meaning

    Status

    kanji

    械

    Meaning

    Contraption

    kanji

    林

    Meaning

    Grove

    kanji

    核

    Meaning

    Nucleus

    kanji

    析

    Meaning

    Chop, Analyze

    kanji

    棄

    Meaning

    Abandon, Renounce

    kanji

    松

    Meaning

    Pine

    kanji

    槽

    Meaning

    Vat, Tank

    kanji

    集

    Meaning

    Gather

    kanji

    枯

    Meaning

    Wither

    kanji

    柿

    Meaning

    Persimmon

    kanji

    梨

    Meaning

    Pear

    kanji

    権

    Meaning

    Rights, Authority

    kanji

    棚

    Meaning

    Shelf

    kanji

    構

    Meaning

    Structure, Care

    kanji

    桃

    Meaning

    Peach

    kanji

    森

    Meaning

    Forest

    kanji

    梅

    Meaning

    Apricot, Plum

    kanji

    乗

    Meaning

    Ride

    kanji

    梗

    Meaning

    Spiny

    kanji

    棟

    Meaning

    Block, Ridgepole

    kanji

    束

    Meaning

    Bundle, Bind

    kanji

    村

    Meaning

    Village

    kanji

    樹

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    機

    Meaning

    Machine, Opportunity

    kanji

    親

    Meaning

    Parent

    kanji

    柱

    Meaning

    Pillar

    kanji

    朴

    Meaning

    Crude, Simple

    kanji

    架

    Meaning

    Shelf, Build across

    kanji

    末

    Meaning

    End

    kanji

    枢

    Meaning

    Pivot, Hinge

    kanji

    未

    Meaning

    Not yet

    kanji

    橋

    Meaning

    Bridge

    kanji

    案

    Meaning

    Plan, Proposal

    kanji

    極

    Meaning

    Extreme, Pole

    kanji

    椅

    Meaning

    Chair

    kanji

    桟

    Meaning

    Scaffold, Plank bridge

    kanji

    楽

    Meaning

    Music, Pleasure

Learn the Kanji 柔

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 柔 mean?

柔 means 'Soft' and 'Gentle'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Junior Highschool, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N2 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.