脆い（もろい、moroi）
- fragile

The Japanese word 脆い (もろい - moroi) describes something that is fragile, brittle, weak, or easily broken. It can refer to physical objects, but also to abstract concepts like emotions or relationships. It implies a lack of strength or durability, making the subject susceptible to damage or change. Think of something that can easily be snapped, crumbled, or collapses under pressure. The word emphasizes the ease with which something can be harmed or destroyed.

⚫︎ガラスは脆い Translation: Glass is fragile. ⚫︎彼の心は脆い Translation: His heart is tender/vulnerable. ⚫︎その橋は脆い Translation: That bridge is unstable/weak.

脆い is used to describe something that lacks strength or resilience. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from describing the physical properties of an object to the emotional state of a person. You'd use it to express that something is easily damaged, broken, or influenced. It's often used when highlighting a potential vulnerability or weakness. You can use this word when talking about: ⚫︎Physical objects: glass, paper, a structure. ⚫︎Abstract concepts: a person's emotions, a relationship, a plan. ⚫︎Things that can be easily affected by external forces. When you see 脆い, you might assume that caution is needed or that the situation isn't sturdy.

⚫︎The word is typically written in hiragana as もろい. ⚫︎The kanji form is 脆, and the reading is もろ. ⚫︎The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is usually い, which is the adjective ending. ⚫︎Variations can include different conjugations of the adjective to suit the tense and context (e.g., 脆く - moroku, the adverbial form). For example, if you want to say something like, "the glass breaks easily" you might say ガラスは脆く割れる.

⚫︎弱い (yowai) - weak ⚫︎壊れやすい (koware yasui) - easily broken ⚫︎デリケート (derikeeto) - delicate (loanword) ⚫︎華奢な (kyashana) - delicate, fragile (typically for physical appearance) ⚫︎ひ弱な (hiyow na) - frail, weak

⚫︎強い (tsuyoi) - strong ⚫︎頑丈な (ganjou na) - sturdy, robust ⚫︎丈夫な (joubu na) - durable, tough

この皿は脆くて、すぐに割れてしまうかもしれない。 ・Translation: This plate is fragile and might break easily. ・Explanation: The sentence highlights the fragility of the plate, warning about the likelihood of breaking.

彼女は脆い心を持っているから、冷たい言葉は避けた方がいい。 ・Translation: She has a tender heart, so it's better to avoid harsh words. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 脆い to describe someone's emotional state, emphasizing their sensitivity.

The etymology of 脆い is not definitively known, but it's likely related to the concept of breaking or crumbling. The kanji 脆 combines the elements of "bone" (骨) and a component suggesting "weakness" or "yielding". This association reflects the word's core meaning of fragility and easily breaking under pressure.