“Weak” in Japanese is 弱い (よわい), pronounced yowai.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Weak. お酒に弱い: someone who gets drunk easily.
Example sentences
- 私はお酒に弱いです。わたしはおさけによわいです。I can’t hold my drink.
- 雨が弱くなりました。あめがよわくなりました。The rain has eased.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 弱い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 弱い よわい | weak |
| Polite present | 弱いです よわいです | is weak |
| Negative | 弱くないです よわくないです | isn’t weak |
| Past | 弱かったです よわかったです | was weak |
| Past negative | 弱くなかったです よわくなかったです | wasn’t weak |
| て-form | 弱くて よわくて | weak and… |
| Adverb (く) | 弱く よわく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Which word means “young”?
Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say weak in Japanese?
Weak in Japanese is 弱い (よわい), pronounced “yowai”.
How do you write weak in Japanese?
It's written 弱い with kanji, or よわい in hiragana. Both are read yowai.
Is 弱い on the JLPT?
Yes. 弱い (yowai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.