か弱い|かよわいkayowai[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectiveweak; feeble; delicate; frail; helpless
   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.

• Synonym弱いよわいNeutralThe everyday word for weak. Covers lack of strength or ability in general, but without the pitiable, needs-protecting nuance of 「か弱い」.
• Synonym脆弱ぜいじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Suggests something fragile that could easily fall apart — structures, systems, organizations — mostly non-living things.
• Synonym弱々しいよわよわしいNeutralDescribes someone or something that looks drained of strength, as in 「弱々しい声」. The focus is on how weak they appear.
• Synonym虚弱きょじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Focuses on a weak constitution and poor health, as in 「虚弱体質」.
• Synonymか細いかぼそいNeutralThin and faint: used for slender arms, a slight body, or a 「か細い声」. Focuses on physical slightness or a weak, thin sound.
• Synonymひ弱ひよわCasualColloquial. Suggests a frail constitution or a will that is not very strong; covers both poor health and lack of fortitude.
• RelatedデリケートCasualColloquial loanword. Focuses on a sensitive, delicate nature or a subtle, touchy issue rather than physical frailty.
• Related繊細せんさいNeutralDelicate and refined: keen, sensitive feelings or fine, intricate workmanship; about sensitivity rather than frailty.
• RelatedもろいNeutralBrittle: things that break easily, or a person who is soft-hearted and quick to cry.
• Related華奢きゃしゃNeutralSlender and delicate: a slim, graceful figure, or finely made objects that break easily.
• RelatedよぼよぼCasualColloquial. Doddering and unsteady on the feet — the frailty of old age; mostly for elderly people, also for aged animals.
• Related柔弱にゅうじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Lacking in strength or backbone, often with a critical edge; 「か弱い」 stresses being pitiable and needing protection.
• Related羸弱るいじゃくFormalFormal and rare, leaning medical or literary: physical and mental weakness and exhaustion.
• Antonym強いつよいNeutralThe basic antonym: strong and powerful, the direct opposite of frail 「か弱い」.
• AntonymたくましいNeutralSturdy and strong-willed — burly, robust, resolute. The opposite of the delicate, needs-protecting image of 「か弱い」.

Use 「か弱い」 for someone who looks frail and needs protecting, often a woman or child, as in 「か弱い女性」. For plain, everyday weakness say 「弱い」; for a faint voice 「か細い」; for poor health 「虚弱」. 「脆弱」 fits fragile systems, 「華奢」 slim figures or delicate objects, 「よぼよぼ」 the tottering elderly, and 「強い」「逞しい」 are the opposites.

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

1. いかにも弱よわそうなさま。