柔软 (róu ruǎn) — soft | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

柔软 describes a pleasingly soft texture (hair, fabric, skin). Use it for tactile softness, not character — for that see 温柔 or 软弱.

adjective

soft

Examples

柔软。
Zhè kuài dàn gāo hěn róu ruǎn.
This piece of cake is very soft.
柔软。
Zhè jiàn máo yī de máo fēi cháng róu ruǎn.
The wool of this sweater is very soft.
柔软。
Tā de tóu fa yòu hēi yòu róu ruǎn.
Her hair is both black and soft.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

柔 and 软 both describe softness, so together they emphasize a yielding, not hard texture.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

耎

耎ruǎn軟ruǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Texture & Quality

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