娇柔 (jiāo róu) — charming and gentle (of a female)

Definition

Literary, written-style adjective for a delicate, gentle femininity (look, voice, bearing). More bookish than 漂亮 or 好看, which describe simple prettiness.

adjective
charming and gentle (of a female)

Examples

  • 娇柔。
    Tā shì yí gè fēi cháng jiāo róu de nǚ hái.
    She is a very charming and gentle girl.
  • 娇柔。
    Tā jiāo róu de qì zhì xī yǐn le hěn duō rén.
    Her charming and gentle temperament attracted many people.
  • 娇柔，。
    Jǐn guǎn tā wài biǎo jiāo róu, nèi xīn què fēi cháng jiān qiáng.
    Although she appears charming and gentle on the outside, she is very strong inside.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

娇jiāocharming/tender
柔róugentle/soft

娇 gives charm and softness, while 柔 gives gentleness, so 娇柔 describes a delicate feminine manner.

Characters in this word

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 嬌; 娇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo嬌jiāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 嬌 has 女 (woman) beside 喬, which gave the sound; the simplified 娇 is a shorthand.

Open 娇 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 柔 →

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