Meaning
软 describes something that is soft to the touch, pliable, or lacking firmness. It can refer to physical softness (like a pillow or bread) or metaphorical weakness (like someone's character or resolve). The character contains the 车 (cart) radical, historically relating to soft leather used in carts.
Usage
软 is commonly used to describe textures, materials, and physical objects. It can also describe people's attitudes or positions as being weak or easily swayed. In colloquial speech, 软 appears in many compounds and is often paired with 硬 (hard) as an opposite. Native speakers frequently use it in everyday contexts from describing food texture to software programs (软件).
Examples
- 01这个枕头很软，睡觉很舒服。, .This pillow is very soft and comfortable to sleep on.
- 02他态度太软，总是被别人欺负。, .His attitude is too weak; he's always getting bullied by others.
Common collocations
- 软件software
- 软弱weak, feeble
- 心软soft-hearted
- 软硬兼施use both soft and hard tactics
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 軟 contains 車 (cart) and 欠 (to lack), originally referring to soft leather used in cart-making that lacked hardness.