What is the difference between "脆い" and "もろい"?

"脆い" means "fragile, brittle, weak" (N2), whereas "もろい" represents "fragile, brittle, frail, weak (emotionally)" (N2).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "もろい (moroi)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

もろい (moroi)

N2 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

もろい (moroi)

N2 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "もろい (moroi)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

脆い (Level: N2): Translates to "fragile, brittle, weak" and is used when Easily broken, damaged, or susceptible to something. Can refer to physical objects or abstract concepts like emotions or systems..
もろい (Level: N2): Maps to "fragile, brittle, frail, weak (emotionally)" and carries the nuance of Describes something that breaks easily, either physically.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "脆い"

この花瓶はとても脆いので、丁寧に扱ってください。

This vase is very fragile, so please handle it with care.

Bilingual Context for "もろい"

このガラス製品はとてももろいので、注意してください。

This glass product is very fragile, so please be careful.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "この花瓶はとても＿＿＿ので、丁寧に扱ってください。" (Meaning: "This vase is very fragile, so please handle it with care.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "脆い" is used for "fragile, brittle, weak" in the context: "This vase is very fragile, so please handle it with care.".