Kanji Library
KanjiJLPT N2 › 柔

柔 — Tender

JLPT N29 strokesSecondary school#1187 most used
tender, weakness, gentleness, softness
On’yomiジュウ (juu)
On’yomiニュウ (nyuu)
Kun’yomiやわらか (yawaraka)
Kun’yomiやわらかい (yawarakai)
Kun’yomiやわ (yawa)
Kun’yomiやわ (yawara)

Stroke order (9 strokes)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Watch the strokes draw themselves in the correct order — numbers mark where each stroke starts. Diagram from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA).

Common words using 柔

WordReadingMeaning
柔軟じゅうなん
juunan
flexible; lithe; soft
柔道じゅうどう
juudou
judo
柔らかやわらか
yawaraka
soft; tender; pliant
柔らかいやわらかい
yawarakai
soft; tender; supple
柔和にゅうわ
nyuuwa
gentle; mild; meek
優柔不断ゆうじゅうふだん
yuujuufudan
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally

Study notes

柔 is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 9 strokes. It is taught at secondary-school level in Japan. Ranked #1187 of the 2,500 most frequent kanji in newspapers. On’yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings mostly used in compound words; kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, with any highlighted part written in hiragana after the kanji (okurigana).

← 祝 celebrate殿 Mr. →

🔊 Tap the big kanji, any reading or any example word to hear it.