か弱(よわ)い

かよわい
i-adjective
weak; frail; delicate
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentか弱(よわ)いか弱(よわ)くない
Pastか弱(よわ)かったか弱(よわ)くなかった
て formか弱(よわ)くてか弱(よわ)くなくて
Adverbialか弱(よわ)く—
Conditional ばか弱(よわ)ければか弱(よわ)くなければ
Conditional たらか弱(よわ)かったらか弱(よわ)くなかったら
1. weak; frail; delicate
physically or emotionally weak; fragile and easily harmed; often implies a sense of needing protection
か弱(よわ)い子犬(こいぬ)を保護(ほご)した。
I rescued a frail puppy.
か弱(よわ)い女性(じょせい)を装(よそお)っていた。
She was pretending to be a fragile woman.
か弱(よわ)い声(こえ)で助(たす)けを求(もと)めた。
She asked for help in a weak voice.

か弱(よわ)い describes physical or emotional fragility, often evoking a sense of vulnerability or need for protection.

Etymology

The prefix か adds emphasis and a soft, tender tone to 弱(よわ)い (weak); it also appears in か細(ぼそ)い (slender, faint).

Common collocations

Usage

  • Has a literary or emotional quality
  • Often used to describe women, children, or small animals
  • Implies something or someone that evokes protective feelings
  • Can be used ironically to describe someone who appears weak but isn't

Related words

Register: Literary to neutral. More formal than simple 弱(よわ)い.

Related Words

Related: 華奢(きゃしゃ) (delicate, slender)
Related: 儚(はかな)い (fleeting, fragile)
Compare: 儚(はかな)げ (seemingly fragile)
general
Added 2026.1.21 22:22 · Revised 2026.10.4 11:20
07500/07869_kayowai