脆(もろ)い

もろい
i-adjective
fragile, brittle
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present脆(もろ)い脆(もろ)くない
Past脆(もろ)かった脆(もろ)くなかった
て form脆(もろ)くて脆(もろ)くなくて
Adverbial脆(もろ)く—
Conditional ば脆(もろ)ければ脆(もろ)くなければ
Conditional たら脆(もろ)かったら脆(もろ)くなかったら
1. fragile, brittle, easily broken
Physically weak and easily damaged or destroyed.
この材料(ざいりょう)は脆(もろ)くて壊(こわ)れやすい。
This material is brittle and breaks easily.
脆(もろ)い守備(しゅび)を突(つ)かれた。
Their weak defense was exploited.
Sports context
古(ふる)い建物(たてもの)は地震(じしん)で脆(もろ)くも崩(くず)れた。
The old building crumbled easily in the earthquake.
2. weak, vulnerable, easily moved
Emotionally or mentally easily affected. Often used for someone who cries easily or is easily swayed.
彼(かれ)は涙(なみだ)に脆(もろ)い。
He is easily moved to tears.
Common expression
精神的(せいしんてき)に脆(もろ)いところがある。
There are aspects where I'm mentally fragile.
感動的(かんどうてき)な話(はなし)に脆(もろ)くて、すぐ泣(な)いてしまう。
I'm a sucker for touching stories and cry right away.

脆(もろ)い describes something that is inherently weak and easily broken — physically brittle or emotionally vulnerable.

FORMS:

  • Adverb: 脆(もろ)く (fragilely)
  • Noun: 脆(もろ)さ (fragility, brittleness)

SENSE 1 - PHYSICAL:

Refers to materials, structures, or defenses that break easily.

SENSE 2 - EMOTIONAL:

Describes someone who is easily moved or emotionally vulnerable.

CONTRAST:

  • 壊(こわ)れやすい: more neutral 'easy to break' without implying inherent weakness
  • 弱(よわ)い: general 'weak,' broader in scope
  • 脆(もろ)い: specifically suggests brittleness or vulnerability as an inherent quality

Related Words

Related: 弱(よわ)い
general
Added 2026.1.17 11:07 · Revised 2026.6.12 10:39
06000/06069_moroi