ruǎn

flexible, soft, weak

Depicts an adult () with a long beard () who is old and weak. also represents the sound.

Components
而 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

ér

  

and

Depicts a long beard.

大 iconic component

  Iconic component

dài

  

big

Depicts an adult person.

Evolution

耎 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
耎 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
耎 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
耎 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

ruǎn

weak, pliable, soft, yielding; archaic variant of |[ruǎn]

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (1 verified)

Sound component in 1 character (1 verified)

Simplified component in 1 character (1 verified)

Sources

許進雄《新編進階甲骨文字典: 甲骨文發現120周年紀念版》p.325