Japanese kanji 弱: weakness, weak points and low heat

The idea

弱 has ten strokes. 弱い（よわい） is an i-adjective; 弱まる（よわまる） means to grow weaker. In compounds, 弱点（じゃくてん） and 弱火（よわび） have different readings.

Examples

• 今日きょうは風かぜが弱よわいです。The wind is weak today.
• 雨あめがだんだん弱よわまっています。The rain is gradually weakening.
• 私わたしの弱点じゃくてんは人前ひとまえで話はなすことです。My weak point is speaking in public.
• スープを弱火よわびで煮にてください。Simmer the soup over low heat.
• この植物しょくぶつは寒さむさに弱よわいです。This plant is sensitive to cold.
• 建物たてものの中なかでは電波でんぱが弱よわいです。The signal is weak inside the building.

Watch out

Do not assume every compound uses じゃく: 弱火 is よわび. 弱い describes a state, while 弱まる describes a change.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 弱い in hiragana.

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   よわい

   弱い is よわい: it describes a weak wind in the first example.

2. Write the reading of 弱点 in hiragana.

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   じゃくてん

   弱点 is じゃくてん: it means a weak point, such as public speaking in the example.

3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿火（よわび）［弱／強］.

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   弱

   弱 completes 弱火（よわび）, the low heat used to simmer soup.

Use it today

Read the examples aloud, then cover the table and recall the readings. Describe something that is weak or has weakened.