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道Nihongo Path
脆

脆·brittle, fragile

On-yomi
ゼイ
Kun-yomi
もろ(い)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

10 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
脆弱ぜいじゃくfragile, vulnerable
脆いもろいbrittle, fragile
脆さもろさfragility

Example sentences

  1. この石は脆くてすぐ割れる。

    このいしはもろくてすぐわれる。

    This stone is brittle and breaks straight away.

  2. 脆弱な地盤の上に家が建っている。

    ぜいじゃくなじばんのうえにいえがたっている。

    The house stands on weak ground.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 脆弱 as きじゃく — it is ぜいじゃく
  • 脆い is usually written in kana (もろい) in everyday writing

Memory aid

Picture it

The flesh radical 月 on the left with 危 (danger): flesh gives way where bone would hold.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 脆 mean?