entries → 弱
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
弱 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)
弱 ＝ 弓 ＋ 彡
ㄖㄨㄛˋ · ruò
adj — weak, frail, feeble

字源 FORM — what the parts do

弓形a bent bow, doubled — two of them, soft and yielding
彡形three soft strokes — fine hairs, drooping
Two bent bows (弓 doubled), each trailing soft strokes (彡) like limp hairs — things that give and droop, hence weak, frail. From there: 弱小、脆弱、軟弱.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

兩張弓（弓）都軟塌塌彎著，垂下幾根細毛（彡），一碰就折。
Two bows (弓), both bent slack, with fine hairs (彡) drooping off them — snapping at a touch.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)弱小、軟弱— weak, frail, feeble常用
→脆弱— fragile, brittle
→弱點— a weak point, weakness
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
強qiángits opposite — 強 builds on 弓 with 虫 for strong, 弱 doubles the soft bow溺nìbuilt on 弱 with 氵 (water) — to drown; 弱 is the limp half