弱い|よわいyowai[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectiveweak; frail; delicate; tender; unskilled; weak (wine)
   それを言いわれると弱よわいなあ。↗

   That sure puts me on the spot.

• Synonym脆弱ぜいじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Suggests fragility that cannot withstand shocks; applies to the body, mind, or systems, as in 「脆弱な体」 and 「災害に脆弱な地域」.
• Synonym弱々しいよわよわしいCasualColloquial. Describes something that looks very weak and listless; stresses the outward impression, as in 「弱々しい声」.
• Synonym虚弱きょじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Refers to a weak, sickly constitution, as in 「虚弱体質」; concerns physical health.
• Synonymか弱いかよわいCasualColloquial. Frail and delicate in a way that calls for protection; mostly said of women and children, as in 「か弱い女性」.
• Synonym非力ひりきNeutralNeutral. Short on strength or ability; 「非力ながら」 works as a humble phrase.
• Synonymか細いかぼそいCasualColloquial. For bodies, arms, or voices that are thin as well as weak; stresses slenderness, as in 「か細い腕」.
• Synonym心弱いこころよわいNeutralNeutral. Weak-willed and quick to waver or grow anxious; focuses on the inner state rather than physical strength.
• Synonymひ弱ひよわCasualColloquial. Physically or mentally unable to stand up to hardship; carries a critical nuance, as in 「ひ弱な若者」.
• RelatedもろいNeutralNeutral. Easily broken or damaged, and by extension easily moved emotionally, as in 「涙もろい」.
• RelatedデリケートCasualColloquial loanword. Sensitive and delicate in feelings, or fragile and easily harmed, as in 「デリケートな問題」.
• Related薄弱はくじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Says a will or a basis lacks firmness, as in 「意志薄弱」 and 「根拠が薄弱だ」.
• Related繊細せんさいNeutralNeutral. Fine, delicate, and sensitive; usually a positive evaluation, as in 「繊細な味」, not plain weakness.
• Related軟弱なんじゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Soft and lacking firmness: soft ground as in 「軟弱な地盤」, or a spineless attitude as in 「軟弱な態度」.
• Related無力むりょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Lacking power or ability, stressing that nothing can be done, as in 「無力感」.
• Related華奢きゃしゃNeutralNeutral. Slender and elegant of figure, or finely made yet easily broken, as in 「華奢な体つき」; not simply weak.
• Related意気地のないいくじのないCasualColloquial. Spineless and timid, with a blaming tone, as in 「意気地のない男」.
• Antonym強いつよいNeutralNeutral antonym. The direct opposite of 「弱い」: strong in force or degree, and also skilled at something.
• Antonym力強いちからづよいNeutralNeutral antonym. The vigorous opposite of 「弱い」: powerful and forceful, and also reassuring; carries a positive coloring.
• Antonym頑丈がんじょうNeutralNeutral antonym. Opposes the easily-broken sense of 「弱い」: solidly built things and sturdy bodies.

Default to 「弱い」. For a weak, sickly constitution use 「虚弱」; for something that merely looks weak, 「弱々しい」; for structures that break easily, 「脆い」 or 「脆弱」; for a weak will, 「薄弱」; for someone with no backbone, 「意気地のない」. The other words add nuances of slenderness (「か細い」「華奢」), delicacy (「デリケート」「繊細」), or lack of power (「無力」「非力」).

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

1. 力ちからや技術ぎじゅつが無ないか、外そとよりも小ちいさい。
2. （語義ごぎ1の「力ちからや技術ぎじゅつ」に限かぎらず）対象たいしょうの量的りょうてき評価ひょうかにおいて程度ていどが小ちいさい。
3. 耐たえる力ちからがない。屈服くっぷくしやすい。
4. 苦手にがてだ。下手へただ。