弱 ruò — weak, feeble · English

弱

ruò

weak, feeble

At a glance · 弱

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文象两张弱弓相并，会意弓力不强、柔弱。隶楷作「弱」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「弱」本指弓弱，引申为力量小、年幼。

Structure

会意字，从二弓，象弓力软弱之形。

At a glance

Pinyinruò

Radical弓

Strokes10

UnicodeU+5F31

Character type会意

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English weak, feeble Weak, feeble; young.

Français faible Faible, délicat; jeune.

Español débil Débil, frágil; joven.

العربية ضعيف ضعيف أو صغير السن.

Русский слабый Слабый, хилый; юный.

Common words

弱ruòweak
弱点ruò diǎnweakness

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