HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
柔
róu
flexible
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
柔
róu
supple
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
柔
róu
yielding
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
柔
róu
rho (Greek letter Ρρ)
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
柔
róu
soft, supple; gentle; flexible
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #11127, Very Hard
róu(rou2) T2
1soft
2flexible
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March 24, 2026
柔róu(rou2)
The character 柔 (róu) means 'soft' or 'flexible' and is often used to describe materials, behavior, or attitudes that are gentle and yielding. It conveys a sense of mildness and adaptability, commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as describing a person's temperament or the texture of an object.
Strokes9Radical木Frequency#11127DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese philosophy, particularly in the teachings of Laozi and Daoism, 'softness' is often associated with strength and adaptability, reflected in the concept of '柔弱胜刚强' (softness overcomes hardness), emphasizing the value of gentleness in achieving resilience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft, fluffy cloud (representing '柔' or 'róu') gently bending in the wind. The left side of the character (木) is a tree, and trees bend softly in the breeze, illustrating flexibility. Picture the cloud and the tree together to remember the softness and flexibility of 'róu'.
Meanings of 柔
róu(rou2)
1soft
2flexible
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 柔
柔Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11127Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 柔
Podcast: 柔
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AI Study Notes for 柔
Quick Contrast
柔 (róu) vs 软 (ruǎn) — use 柔 for describing gentle behavior or adaptable qualities, while 软 refers specifically to the softness of physical objects.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 柔 (róu) with 硬 (yìng), which means 'hard'. It's important to note that while 柔 can describe physical softness, it can also refer to gentle or yielding behavior in interpersonal contexts. Common collocations include 温柔 (wēnróu - gentle) and 柔软 (róuruǎn - soft and pliable).
HSK Study Tips
Although 柔 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other descriptive adjectives at the same level, such as 软 (ruǎn - soft) and 温 (wēn - warm). Students should focus on using it in context to describe objects or traits, enhancing their descriptive language.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 柔 by using it in contexts that require a stronger term, such as saying '柔' when they mean '强' (qiáng - strong). For example, saying '他的性格很柔' (tā de xìnggé hěn róu - his personality is very soft) may imply a lack of assertiveness, where '温柔' (wēnróu) would be more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 柔
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 柔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 柔?
Decomposition of 柔
IDS Structure⿱矛木
柔Full Character
=
矛mao2
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 柔?
How to say soft in Chinese
“soft” in Chinese is柔róu
The character 柔 (róu) means 'soft' or 'flexible' and is often used to describe materials, behavior, or attitudes that are gentle and yielding. It conveys a sense of mildness and adaptability, commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as describing a person's temperament or the texture of an object.
When to use 柔
Avoid confusing 柔 (róu) with 硬 (yìng), which means 'hard'. It's important to note that while 柔 can describe physical softness, it can also refer to gentle or yielding behavior in interpersonal contexts. Common collocations include 温柔 (wēnróu - gentle) and 柔软 (róuruǎn - soft and pliable).
柔 or something close to it
柔 (róu) vs 软 (ruǎn) — use 柔 for describing gentle behavior or adaptable qualities, while 软 refers specifically to the softness of physical objects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 柔 by using it in contexts that require a stronger term, such as saying '柔' when they mean '强' (qiáng - strong). For example, saying '他的性格很柔' (tā de xìnggé hěn róu - his personality is very soft) may imply a lack of assertiveness, where '温柔' (wēnróu) would be more appropriate.
Write 柔
柔
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Practice writing 柔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 柔
柔 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
