柔

In extended senses — mild in character, supple in form, yielding in strength, yet enduring through flexibility.

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

木 (나무 목) — semantic component, indicating material or objects that can bend or flex, such as branches or wood.

矛 (창 모) — phonetic component, providing the sound yóu / yu and symbolizing tension or resistance.

According to Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「柔，順也。从矛，木聲。」

“柔 means compliant or yielding. Composed of 矛 (‘spear’) and phonetic 木 (‘wood’).”

However, later philological analysis reverses the explanation — seeing 木 as the semantic component (soft wood, flexible branch) and 矛 as the phonetic.

The combination thus depicts a wooden object bending under a spear — an image of flexibility under pressure, embodying the principle of yielding strength.

柔軟 (유연) — soft; pliable; flexible

柔和 (유화) — gentle; mild; harmonious

柔順 (유순) — obedient; docile

溫柔 (온유) — warm and gentle

剛柔 (강유) — firmness and softness; rigidity and flexibility

柔道 (유도) — judo (the “way of gentleness”); Japanese martial art based on yielding movement

柔情 (유정) — tender feeling; affection

柔弱 (유약) — weak; delicate

柔聲 (유성) — soft tone or gentle sound

In its earliest bronze and seal script forms, 柔 depicted a tree branch bent under pressure — symbolizing flexibility, adaptability, and yielding without breaking.

This visual metaphor connects deeply with both natural philosophy and ethical thought across East Asian traditions.

In Daoist writings, 柔 is revered as a symbol of life and vitality, contrasted with rigidity, which signifies death or decay:

「天下之至柔，馳騁天下之至堅。」 (Daodejing, ch. 43)

“The softest thing under heaven overcomes the hardest.”

「強梁者不得其死，柔弱者長生。」 (Daodejing, ch. 76)

“The hard and strong will not endure; the soft and weak will live long.”

In Confucian moral discourse, 柔 complements 剛 (firmness) — balance between yielding and principled firmness defines the virtuous character (君子).

Thus, 柔 carries both physical and moral significance:

Physically, the property of bending without breaking;

Morally, the quality of gentleness and adaptability grounded in strength.

Cultural and symbolic meaning:

The concept of 柔 stands at the heart of East Asian aesthetics and philosophy — expressing the dynamic balance (陰陽) of the universe.

It represents the feminine, receptive, and nurturing principle (陰 yin) in contrast to the masculine, active, and forceful (陽 yang).

In martial arts philosophy, particularly 柔道 (Judo) and 柔術 (Jujutsu), this character embodies the principle of yielding to overcome — “using softness to subdue hardness.”

This reflects the Daoist notion that true strength lies not in resistance but in adaptability.

“The willow bends with the wind but does not break.”

Such imagery captures the timeless ideal of 柔 — resilience through flexibility.

From natural imagery to moral philosophy and martial practice, 柔 has come to symbolize enduring strength through softness, wisdom through humility, and victory through harmony.