jau4 joek6柔弱

Jyutpingjau4 joek6

Yaleyàuh yeuhk

形容詞Uncommon

Definition

Delicate, weak, or gentle; describing someone who is physically weak and soft-spoken.

neutraldescriptionspeople

How it's used

While often used to describe physical frailty, this term frequently carries a nuance of personality, implying someone who lacks assertiveness or resilience. It is more descriptive and slightly more formal than simply saying someone is 冇力 or 軟弱. When applied to appearance, it suggests a delicate or refined quality rather than just being sickly.

Examples

keoi5佢tai2睇lok6落hou2好jau4柔joek6弱，m4唔ci5似zou6做dak1得cou1粗cung5重je5嘢。

She looks gentle and frail, not like someone who can do heavy labor.

nei5你m4唔hou2好gam3咁jau4柔joek6弱laa1啦，jiu3要jung5勇gam2敢di1啲min6面deoi3對。

Don't be so weak and fragile, you need to face it more bravely.

Common phrases

ngoi6外biu2表jau4柔joek6弱

frail in appearance

sing3性gaak3格jau4柔joek6弱

gentle and timid personality

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with 軟弱, which specifically emphasizes a lack of willpower or moral strength. 柔弱 is more neutral and can describe a physical state or a gentle demeanor, whereas 軟弱 is almost always used to criticize someone's character.