Yowai is the Japanese word for ‘weak’, explained

What does “yowai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “yowai” normally to mean ‘weak’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, video games, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “yowai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “yowai”
  • Example #1: how to say “you’re weak” in Japanese
• Yowakunai: the nai form of “yowai”
  • Example #2: how to say “I’m not weak” in Japanese
• Yowakatta: the ta form of “yowai”
  • Example #3: how to say “I was weak” in Japanese
• Yowakute: the te form of “yowai”
  • Example #4: how to say “weak and” in Japanese
• Yowakereba: the ba form of “yowai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if weak” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “yowai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “yowai”.

• yowai – 弱い (よわい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘weak’ in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are very simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “you’re weak” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kimi” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “yowai”. In this example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. It’s worth knowing, I think. When we want to say “weak” in Japanese, anyway, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “yowai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “yowakunai”.

Yowakunai: the nai form of “yowai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “yowakunai”.

• yowakunai – 弱くない (よわくない) : the nai form of “yowai”, which means ‘not weak’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yowakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• yowaku – 弱く (よわく) : one conjugation of “yowai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yowakunai” is literally the nai form of “yowai” and means ‘not weak’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “I’m not weak” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.

This is a typical usage of “yowakunai”. When we want to say “not weak” in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Yowakatta: the ta form of “yowai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yowakatta”.

• yowakatta – 弱かった (よわかった) : the ta form of “yowai”, which means ‘was weak’ or ‘were weak’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yowakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• yowakat – 弱かっ (よわかっ) : one conjugation of “yowai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yowakatta” is literally the ta form of “yowai” and means ‘was weak’ or ‘were weak’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this ta form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “I was weak” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• mukashi – 昔 (むかし) : a noun meaning ‘the past’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “before” in Japanese.
• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• yori – より : a case particle used to provide a target of comparison. In the example, this is used after “kare” to say with whom “boku” is compared.

This is a typical usage of “yowakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “yowai”, this ta form is the best option.

Yowakute: the te form of “yowai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “yowakute”.

• yowakute – 弱くて (よわくて) : the te form of “yowai”, which means ‘weak’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yowakute” consists of the following two parts:

• yowaku – 弱く (よわく) : one conjugation of “yowai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yowakute” is literally the te form of “yowai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “yowakute” is very useful when we want to use “yowai” in front of another adjective or a verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “weak and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• omae – お前 (おまえ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ rudely in Japanese.
• chiisai – 小さい (ちいさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘small’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “yowakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “chiisai”. When we want to use “yowai” in front of another adjective, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Yowakereba: the ba form of “yowai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “yowakereba”.

• yowakereba – 弱ければ (よわければ) : the ba form of “yowai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘weak’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yowakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• yowakere – 弱けれ (よわけれ) : one conjugation of “yowai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yowakereba” is literally the ba form of “yowai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “yowakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘weak’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if weak” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kimi” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a place close to the speaker. In the example, this works together with “de” to say “here” in Japanese.
• de – で : a case particle use to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “koko” to say where “kimi” cannot survive.
• ikinoko – 生き残 (いきのこ) : one conjugation of the verb, “ikinokoru”, which means ‘to survive’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• re – れ : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, “reru”, which is used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, this is used after the conjugated verb, “ikinoko”, to make its potential form, “ikinoko re”, which means ‘can survive’.

This is a typical usage of “yowakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kimi ga yowakereba”, which means ‘if you are weak’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘weak’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “yowai” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• yowai – 弱い (よわい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘weak’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• yowakunai – 弱くない (よわくない) : the nai form of “yowai”, which means ‘not weak’ in Japanese.
• yowakatta – 弱かった (よわかった) : the ta form of “yowai”, which means ‘was weak’ or ‘were weak’ in Japanese.
• yowakute – 弱くて (よわくて) : the te form of “yowai”, which means ‘weak’ in Japanese. When we want to use “yowai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• yowakereba – 弱ければ (よわければ) : the ba form of “yowai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘weak’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.