弱 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

by

What does 弱 mean in Japanese?

弱 means weak, frail, or vulnerable in Japanese. You will find it in everyday words such as 弱い (weak), 弱点 (weak point), and 弱気 (timid; bearish), and in contexts where something or someone lacks strength, confidence, or resilience.

For learners, 弱 is best understood alongside its opposite: 強 (strong). The pair 強い ↔ 弱い appears throughout everyday Japanese — from physical descriptions to personality, health, and even financial markets. Learning both together doubles the value of each.

Reading

On’yomi: ジャク (jaku)

Kun’yomi: よわ-い (yowa-i), よわ-る (yowa-ru), よわ-まる (yowa-maru), よわ-める (yowa-meru)

Basic Information

Kanji 弱
Meaning weak, frail, vulnerable
Stroke Count 10
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

弱 is not limited to physical weakness. In 弱い (weak), it describes anything that lacks strength or intensity — a weak body, a weak argument, a faint signal. In 弱点 (weak point), it refers to a personal or structural vulnerability. In 弱気 (timid; bearish), it describes a lack of confidence or a pessimistic outlook — used in everyday conversation and in financial markets alike. 弱者 (vulnerable people) shifts the meaning toward social disadvantage. The range of 弱 is wide: physical, emotional, social, and economic weakness all fall under its meaning.

Common Words

  • 弱い（よわい / yowai） — weak, frail, faint
  • 弱点（じゃくてん / jakuten） — weak point, weakness
  • 弱気（よわき / yowaki） — timid; bearish (market sentiment)
  • 弱者（じゃくしゃ / jakusha） — the weak, vulnerable people
  • 弱虫（よわむし / yowamushi） — coward, weakling (informal)
  • 弱まる（よわまる / yowamaru） — to weaken, to grow weak

Example Sentences

  • 風邪をひいてから、体が弱くなりました。

    かぜをひいてから、からだがよわくなりました。 / Kaze o hiite kara, karada ga yowaku narimashita.

    Since catching a cold, my body has become weaker.

  • 数学が弱点なので、毎日練習しています。

    すうがくがじゃくてんなので、まいにちれんしゅうしています。 / Sugaku ga jakuten nanode, mainichi renshuu shite imasu.

    Since math is my weak point, I practice every day.

  • 弱気にならないで、もっと自信を持ってください。

    よわきにならないで、もっとじしんをもってください。 / Yowaki ni naranaide, motto jishin o motte kudasai.

    Don’t be timid — have more confidence in yourself.

Related Kanji

  • 強

    — 強 means strong — the direct opposite of 弱. Learning 強い ↔ 弱い as a pair is one of the most efficient steps in N4 vocabulary.

  • 気

    — 弱気 (timid; bearish) combines 弱 with 気. The pair 強気 ↔ 弱気 appears in both everyday conversation and financial Japanese.

  • 心

    — 心が弱い means emotionally frail or lacking resolve. 心 and 弱 connect through the theme of inner vulnerability and emotional strength.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

For English speakers, the most efficient step is to learn 弱 and 強 as a pair from the start. 弱い means weak (adjective), while 強い means strong. This contrast appears constantly — in descriptions of people, weather, arguments, and markets.

The on’yomi ジャク appears in formal and compound words: 弱点 (jakuten), 弱者 (jakusha). The kun’yomi よわ appears in everyday speech: 弱い (yowai), 弱気 (yowaki), 弱まる (yowamaru). Knowing which reading fits the context will help you avoid unnatural phrasing.

弱気 (yowaki) deserves special attention. In daily conversation it means timid or lacking confidence. In business and finance, it means bearish — pessimistic about prices or performance. The opposite 強気 (tsuyoki) means assertive or bullish. Encountering 弱気 in a news article about markets signals the financial meaning; in everyday speech, it refers to attitude or confidence.

Summary

弱 means weak, frail, or vulnerable, and is the direct opposite of 強. It covers physical weakness, personal shortcomings, timid attitude, and bearish sentiment.