柔: the kanji for soft; gentle
柔 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means soft; gentle. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
柔 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
柔 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ジュウ (juu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 柔道じゅうどう · jūdō | judo |
| 柔軟じゅうなん · jūnan | flexible |
ニュウ (nyuu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 柔和にゅうわ · nyūwa | gentle; mild |
やわらかい (yawarakai)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 柔らかいやわらかい · yawarakai | soft |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 弟は柔道を習っている。Otōto wa jūdō o naratte iru.My younger brother is learning judo.
- このパンはとても柔らかい。Kono pan wa totemo yawarakai.This bread is very soft.
- 柔軟に考えることが大切だ。Jūnan ni kangaeru koto ga taisetsu da.It is important to think flexibly.
- 祖父は柔和な顔で笑った。Sofu wa nyūwa na kao de waratta.My grandfather smiled gently.
- 運動の前に体を柔らかくする。Undō no mae ni karada o yawarakaku suru.I loosen up my body before exercising.
Questions about 柔
How many strokes does 柔 have?
柔 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 柔?
The on readings are juu (ジュウ), nyuu (ニュウ). The kun readings are yawaraka (やわらか), yawarakai (やわらかい).
What JLPT level is 柔?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 柔
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.