軽い

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 軽いかばんが欲しいです。▶ —
   I want a light bag.
2. 軽い食事をしました。▶ —
   I had a light meal.

Collocations

Mnemonic

かるい — 軽い, Yamato. An i-adjective. The opposite of 重い omoi. It moves from the physical into 'ease, a light heart' ── 軽い食事 (a light meal), 気軽 kigaru (a light spirit = easygoing, casual). A point where it meets the 気 ki cluster ── 気軽 is 'the 気 is light' = an unburdened mood. In the onyomi けい kei a distinctly Japanese word appears ── 軽自動車 kei-jidousha: Japan's regulatory class of compact cars under 660cc. The very category 'kei car' comes out of Japan's road and tax system. The Korean reading gyeong is sister to the onyomi けい ── 軽量 keiryou (lightweight).

Quick check

1. "Please come without hesitation" — idiom?

   • 気軽に来てください kigaru ni kite (idiomatic)
   • 軽く来てください (= "come lightly", awkward)
   • 気を軽くしてください (= "make spirit light", different)
   • 簡単に来て (= "come simply", off)