もろい

も

ろ

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

brittle; fragile; weak

usually written using kana alone

Describes something that breaks, crumbles, collapses, or gives way easily; can be physical or extended to weak defenses, systems, plans, etc.

古ふるい壁かべはもろくて、少すこし触さわっただけで崩くずれた。
The old wall was so brittle that it crumbled with just a touch.

このチームは守まもりがもろい。

This team is weak defensively.

2

i-adjective

tender-hearted; sentimental; easily moved

usually written using kana alone

Used for a person who is emotionally soft or easily affected; common in expressions such as 涙もろい and 情にもろい.

祖そ父ふは涙なみだもろくて、昔むかしの話はなしをするとすぐ泣なく。
My grandfather is sentimental and quickly cries when he talks about the old days.
彼かれは情じょうにもろいところがある。
He has a soft spot for emotional appeals.

Written forms

もろいUsage63%
It is usually written in kana; this is the safest everyday spelling.
脆もろいUsage37%
Standard kanji spelling, especially useful in careful writing, but Kana is usually used.

Kanji

脆brittle, fragile, easy to beat

Similar words

壊こわれやすい
More direct and literal for something being easy to break; もろい emphasizes brittleness, frailty, or weakness.
弱よわい
A broad word for weak in general; もろい often suggests that something gives way easily under pressure.
涙なみだもろい
A common compound meaning easily moved to tears; it is a frequent expression of the emotional sense of もろい.

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain. 脆 is the conventional kanji associated with brittleness or fragility, while the word is commonly written in kana.