柔 róu soft
soft; supple; gentle
How it came to be
A spear over a tree. Green wood that takes the shape you bend it to. The spear is on top because a shaft had to spring, not be stiff.
用法
- Soft/gentle/supple - 柔软 (róuruǎn) soft (to touch), 温柔 (wēnróu) gentle and tender (of manner), 柔和 (róuhé) soft/mild (light, tone, color).
- 柔 emphasizes pliancy and gentleness; contrast 软 (ruǎn, physically soft) - 温柔 is about a gentle disposition, not texture.
- 柔道 (róudào) = judo; 以柔克刚 (yǐróu-kègāng) = overcome hardness with softness.