Japanese word

軽い

Pronunciation

Romajikarui

Meaning

  • i-adjectivelight

Example

このかばんは軽いです。ko no ka ba n wa karu i de su

This bag is light.

Illustration for 軽い (light)

More examples

このボールは軽いです。ko no bō ru wa karu i de su

This ball is light.

朝は軽い食事を取ります。asa wa karu i shoku ji o to ri ma su

I have a light meal in the morning.

Core concept

Focuses on the small physical weight of an object, with the same idea extending to a task that requires little effort.

Common phrases

  • 軽い服karu i fuku

    light clothing

  • 軽い靴karu i kutsu

    light shoes

  • 軽い荷物karu i ni motsu

    light luggage

  • 軽い運動karu i un dō

    light exercise

Definition in Japanese

重量が小さく、運んだり扱ったりするのに力をあまり要しないさま。jū ryō ga chii sa ku hako n da ri atsuka tta ri su ru no ni chikara o a ma ri yō shi na i sa ma

Word origin

軽い (karui) is a native Japanese adjective formed with the stem 軽 (karu, "light") and the adjective ending い (i).

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, 軽い (karui) often appears before 冗談 (jōdan, "joke") to mark a comment as playful rather than serious.

Other meanings

  • easyi-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 軽さkarusalightnessnoun
  • 軽やかkaroyakalightna-adjective

Word lists with this word