柔軟

• Reading: じゅうなん
• Romaji: juunan
• Kanji breakdown: 柔 (juu/yawa) — soft, gentle, flexible; 軟 (nan/yawa) — soft, pliable
• Pronunciation: /dʑɯː.naɴ/

Meaning

Flexible; supple; adaptable; soft and pliable.

A na-adjective and noun with two main senses: (1) physically flexible or supple, as in 柔軟な体 (flexible body) or 柔軟体操 (stretching exercises), and (2) mentally or organisationally adaptable, as in 柔軟な対応 (flexible response). The second meaning is very common in business and everyday contexts. Contrasts with 硬い (stiff, rigid) and 頑固 (stubborn).

Examples

1. 柔軟な発想で問題を解決することが大切だ。 It's important to solve problems with flexible thinking.
2. 毎日ストレッチをして柔軟な体を保っている。 I stretch every day to keep my body supple.
3. 会社は社員の働き方に柔軟に対応している。 The company responds flexibly to how its employees work.

Usage Guide

Context: business, fitness, problem-solving

Tone: positive

Origin & History

From Chinese 柔軟. 柔 (juu) means 'soft, gentle, flexible' and 軟 (nan) means 'soft, pliable.' Both characters reinforce the idea of softness and flexibility.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal