脆い

• Reading: もろい
• Romaji: moroi
• Kanji breakdown: 脆 (zei/moro) — brittle, fragile, weak
• Pronunciation: /mo.ɾoi/

Meaning

Brittle; fragile; weak. Easily broken, crumbled, or overcome.

An i-adjective describing physical fragility (脆い地盤, fragile ground) or emotional/mental weakness (精神的に脆い, emotionally fragile; 涙に脆い, easily moved to tears). Can also describe defences or systems that collapse easily: 脆い守備 (weak defence). Carries a nuance of vulnerability rather than simple smallness.

Examples

1. 地震で脆い建物が次々と崩れた。 Fragile buildings collapsed one after another in the earthquake.
2. 彼は見た目は強そうだが、精神的には脆い。 He looks tough on the outside, but he's emotionally fragile.
3. 涙に脆くて、映画を見るたびに泣いてしまう。 I'm a pushover when it comes to tears — I end up crying every time I watch a movie.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptions, emotions, construction

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Native Japanese word. The kanji 脆 contains the flesh/body radical (月) and the danger element (危), suggesting a body that is susceptible to breaking — vulnerability in physical form.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal