Meaning
柔 describes something that is soft, gentle, or flexible in texture, manner, or character. It emphasizes yielding gentleness rather than hardness or rigidity, and can describe physical qualities (like soft fabric) or abstract qualities (like a gentle personality or mild temperament).
Usage
柔 is often used in formal or literary contexts and frequently appears in compound words rather than standing alone. Common in describing feminine qualities, gentle personalities, soft materials, and flexible martial arts techniques. It contrasts with 刚 (hard/strong) and appears in many chengyu and classical expressions.
Examples
- 01她说话的声音很温柔。.Her voice is very gentle when she speaks.
- 02太极拳讲究以柔克刚的原则。.Tai Chi emphasizes the principle of overcoming hardness with softness.
Common collocations
- 柔软的布料soft fabric
- 柔和的光线soft light
- 以柔克刚to overcome hardness with softness
Antonyms
Origin
The character 柔 originally depicted a spear or weapon (矛) combined with wood (木), suggesting the flexibility of wood that bends rather than breaks. Over time it came to represent the broader concept of softness and gentleness.