Japanese word of the day: 弱い (Yowai)

What does 弱い (Yowai) mean?

弱い (Yowai) (い-adjective) – Weak; fragile; feeble; unskilled. This word is used to describe anything lacking in physical, mental, or figurative strength. It can refer to people, objects, abilities, or even things like coffee or light.

Kanji details for 弱い (Yowai)

Character: 弱 (weak)
Radical: 弓 (bow)

Example sentences with 弱い (Yowai)

• 彼は体が弱いです。
  (Kare wa karada ga yowai desu.)
  💪 He has a weak body.

• 私はお酒に弱いです。
  (Watashi wa osake ni yowai desu.)
  🍶 I have a low tolerance for alcohol.

• このチームは守りが弱い。
  (Kono chīmu wa mamori ga yowai.)
  ⚽ This team has weak defense.

弱い (Yowai) in context

弱い is a flexible adjective for describing anything not strong—physically, mentally, or even in flavor or effect. It’s used for people who are physically frail, for things that break easily, or for skills that aren’t well developed. In daily life, you’ll hear it in phrases like “弱い立場” (yowai tachiba, weak position) or “弱い雨” (yowai ame, light rain).

A quick tip: The opposite of 弱い is 強い (tsuyoi), which means “strong.” Use 弱い for anything that needs more strength, power, or skill.

Whether you’re talking about your own weaknesses, a gentle breeze, or a team that needs improvement, 弱い is an essential word for expressing lack of strength in Japanese.