How to say "weak" in Japanese

• 弱いよわいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe broadest of these: it covers physical weakness or frailty in people, animals, and things, and extends to delicate or tender quality. For a plain 'weak' with no special angle, this is the default.
  それを言いわれると弱よわいなあ。↗

  That sure puts me on the spot.
• 苦手にがてJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'weak (in)': lacking skill at a subject, activity, or task. It describes being poor at something rather than physical weakness, so it is not the word for weak bodies or structures.
  私は数学すうがくは苦手にがてだ。↗

  I am out of my element in math.
• 脆弱ぜいじゃくCommon
  na-adjective, nounLean toward 'fragile': it presents weakness as fragility — things that are delicate or easily broken or damaged, such as structures, systems, or organizations. It is not the word for lacking skill.
  脆弱ぜいじゃくで力ちからの無ない、ただの人間にんげんなんだ。↗

  She's weak, powerless. A mere human.
• か弱いかよわいCommon
  i-adjectiveEmphasizes feeble, delicate frailty, usually of a person: someone slight and easily overpowered, in a way that invites sympathy. Choose it when you want that helpless, delicate image, not a neutral statement of weakness.
  彼女かのじょの子こどもはか弱よわかった。↗

  Her child was in delicate health.
• かすかJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'weak' as faint or slight — weak light, sound, smell, or hope barely perceptible; usually written in kana alone. For a weak person, body, or skill it is seldom the word you want.
  すぐそばでかすかな音おとがした。↗

  I heard a faint sound nearby.

Choose 「弱い」 as the general default for weak bodies or things; 苦手 for being poor at something; 脆弱 for fragile structures or systems; 「か弱い」 for a delicately frail person; 「かすか」 for faint light, sound, or traces.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 弱いよわいweak
• 苦手にがてpoor (at)
• 脆弱ぜいじゃくweak
• か弱いかよわいweak
• かすかfaint
• もろいbrittle
• 弱々しいよわよわしいweak
• 病弱びょうじゃくweak (constitution)
• 軟調なんちょうweak (market)
• 希薄きはくthin (air)
• 非力ひりきpowerless
• 軟弱なんじゃくsoft and lacking firmness
• 微弱びじゃくfeeble
• ウィークweak
• やわsoft
• ひ弱ひよわweak
• 弱っちいよわっちいweak
• 柔弱にゅうじゃくweak
• ひ弱いひよわいweak
• 力弱いちからよわいweak
• なよっちいweak
• 優柔ゆうじゅうindecisive
• ひょろいspindly
• 女の腐ったようおんなのくさったようunmanly
• へろへろcompletely exhausted
• 弱体じゃくたいweak (organization, system, etc.)
• だらしないweak
• 生ぬるいなまぬるいhalf-hearted
• 寒いさむいuninteresting (esp. joke)
• 柔いやわいweak
• へなへなweak
• 惰弱だじゃくweak
• だらしのないweak
• だらしがないweak
• 細ほそslender
• ぼてぼてpoorly hit (e.g. grounder)
• 薄いうすいweak (taste, etc.)
• 緩いゆるいslow
• ぺらぺらthin (paper, cloth, etc.)