SOFT    柔軟

LACK HARDNESS.
MUSHYSQUASHYPULPYPAPPYSLUSHYSQUISHYDOUGHYINFORMAL GOOEYVELVETYSMOOTHFLEECYDOWNYFURRYSILKYSILKENSATINY
Old Chinese Criteria
1. The current standard word for anything pliable and soft is róu 柔, and I have found no competing words with related meanings.
Modern Chinese Criteria
軟 柔 軟和 綿軟 柔軟 柔韌 柔嫩 鬆軟 軟綿綿 rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／
Antonym
  • HARDSTRONG so that one CAN NOT CHANGE its SHAPE.
See also
  • TENDERINTIMATE so as to SHOW LOVE USING MUTUAL TOUCHING.
Hypernym
  • LACK　SITUATION OF NOT HAVING, OR NOT to BEING-IN the UNIVERSE. (anc: 6/0, child: 48)
  • SITUATION　RELATION in which MANY HUMANS, FEATURES OR THINGS EXIST TOGETHER OR INTERACT. (anc: 5/0, child: 11)
  • RELATION　FEATURE of TWO OR MORE THINGS TOGETHER. (anc: 4/0, child: 15)
  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 15.75

  • Handbook of Greek Synonymes, from the French of M. Alex. Pillon, Librarian of the Bibliothèque Royale , at Paris, and one of the editors of the new edition of Plaché's Dictionnaire Grec-Français, edited, with notes, by the Rev. Thomas Kerchever Arnold, M.A. Rector of Lyndon, and late fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge ( PILLON 1850) p. no.321

    • Words (11 items)

    柔  róu OC: mlju MC: ȵɨu 32 Attributions

    The current standard word for anything pliable and soft is róu 柔, and I have found no competing words with related meanings.

      Word relations
    • Ant: 剛/HARD Gāng 剛 (ant. róu 柔 "pliable") focusses on physical hardness as the core of inflexibility and firmness. [has also fig. meanings with positive and negative connotations][CA]
    • Ant: 堅/HARD The standard word for internal inherent solidity is jiān 堅 (ant. cuì 脆 "brittle"), and the standard word for external firmness, sturdiness and immobility is gù 固.
    • Ant: 強 / 強/STRONG The current general word for the temporary state of strength, physical or political, are qiáng 強 (ant. ruò 弱 "weak").
    • Ant: 剛/HARD Gāng 剛 (ant. róu 柔 "pliable") focusses on physical hardness as the core of inflexibility and firmness. [has also fig. meanings with positive and negative connotations][CA]
    • Contrast: 弱/WEAK The current general word for weakness of any physical or abstract kind, and of anything including states, persons, and animals is ruò 弱 (ant. qiáng 強 "strong").
    • Assoc: 弱/WEAK The current general word for weakness of any physical or abstract kind, and of anything including states, persons, and animals is ruò 弱 (ant. qiáng 強 "strong").
    • Assoc: 懦/COWARDLY
    • Assoc: 脆/WEAK Cuì 脆/膬 (ant. jiān 堅 "strong and hard") refers to physical weakness as a result of brittleness and a propensity to break easily.
    • Oppos: 直/UPRIGHT

      Syntactic words
    • nabfeaturesoftness
    • nmwhat is soft, the soft things; soft things
    • v[adN]what is soft; soft substances 
    • v[adN]nonreferentialthe soft and weak
    • vadNsoft; delicateCH
    • visoft (rather than physically hard)
    • vifigurativemorally pliable, flexible
    • vtoNcausativesoften up; make soft; soften
    • vtoNN=humshow soft concern towards
    柔軟  róu ruǎn OC: mlju njonʔ MC: ȵɨu ȵiɛn 4 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNfigurativesoft; gentle
    • VPibe gentle
    溫柔  wēn róu OC: quun mlju MC: ʔuo̝n ȵɨu 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabdispositiongentle softness, genteelness
    • VPiactbe all soft and pliable
    緩  huǎn OC: ɢʷaanʔ MC: ɦʷɑn 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vadNnot compact, loose (earth)????
    • vibe flabby
    • vtoNtreat gently
    臑  rú OC: njo MC: ȵi̯o 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vibe soft, succulent and tender
    女  nǚ OC: naʔ MC: ɳi̯ɤ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • nadVsoft, weak, sexy
    惠  huì MC: hwejH OC: ɢʷiids 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vadNsoft, moderate, mildDS
    渘  róu MC: -- OC: -- 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vadNderivedsoft-hearted; unaggressive; sensitiveCH
    溫  wēn MC: 'won OC: quun 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vifigurativeliterary: be gentle in styleCH
      Click here to add pinyin MC:  OC: 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vifigurativebe gentle in styleCH
      Click here to add pinyin MC:  OC: 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vifigurativeliterary: be gentle in styleCH