柔

róu

木 + 矛

Definitions

róu (adjective) soft; flexible; supple; yielding

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 矛 represents the sound and 木 represents the meaning.

About

柔 is a phonosemantic compound: 木 'tree, wood' below conveys the meaning, and 矛 'spear' above indicates the sound. Originally, it referred to the pliability of young tree branches or plant stalks, their ability to bend under pressure without snapping. This sense of physical flexibility broadened to encompass softness and suppleness in various materials, fabrics, and the human body. Over time, it was metaphorically applied to personality, signifying a gentle, mild, and tender disposition that is accommodating and non-aggressive in social situations.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她很温柔。

Tā hěn wēnróu.

She is very gentle.

他的声音很柔和。

Tā de shēngyīn hěn róuhé.

His voice is very soft and gentle.

丝绸摸起来很柔软。

Sīcháo mō qǐlái hěn róuruǎn.

Silk feels very soft.

她以柔克刚地解决了冲突。

Tā yǐ róu kè gāng de jiějuéle chōngtū.

She resolved the conflict by using softness to overcome hardness.

月光柔和地洒在湖面上。

Yuèguāng róuhé de sǎ zài húmiàn shàng.

The moonlight softly spills onto the surface of the lake.

柔道是一种以柔为主的武术。

Róudào shì yī zhǒng yǐ róu wéi zhǔ de wǔshù.

Judo is a martial art that primarily emphasizes softness (flexibility).

春风轻柔地拂过新生的嫩芽。

Chūnfēng qīngróu de fúguò xīnshēng de nènyá.

The spring breeze gently brushes past the newly sprouted buds.

他刚强的外表下藏着一颗柔善的心。

Tā gāngqiáng de wàibiǎo xià cángzhe yī kē róu shàn de xīn.

Beneath his strong exterior lies a kind and gentle heart.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 木

Component: 矛

柔