頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかい

あたまがやわらかい
expression
flexible in thinking; open-minded; adaptable
personalitycognition
1. flexible in thinking; open-minded; quick to adapt
Said of someone who can drop a fixed assumption and take up a new idea or method. It praises mental flexibility rather than intelligence as such.
若(わか)い人(ひと)は頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかい。
Young people are flexible in their thinking.
頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかい人(ひと)ほど新(あたら)しい道具(どうぐ)をすぐ使(つか)いこなす。
The more open-minded someone is, the faster they master a new tool.
部長(ぶちょう)は年配(ねんぱい)だが頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかく、現場(げんば)の提案(ていあん)をよく受(う)け入(い)れてくれる。
The department head is older but open-minded, and often takes up suggestions from the front line.

Usage

Used as a compliment, most often about adapting to new methods, technology, or unfamiliar ways of thinking. The negated form 頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかくない is rare — the opposite is normally expressed with 頭(あたま)が固(かた)い.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Antonym: 頭(あたま)が固(かた)い (rigid, set in one's ways)
general
Added 2026.8.13 9:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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