Definition
手软 literally means 'hand soft' and describes being too softhearted to act firmly, especially when punishment, strictness, or a tough decision is needed. It's often used in negative constructions like 不手软 (ruthless, not soft) or after verbs to indicate hesitating to be harsh. Contrast with 心软 (softhearted in general), which is more about emotional empathy.
v.p.
softheartedhesitant to be harsh or strict
Examples
- 手软。Tā duì dírén cónglái bù huì shǒu ruǎn.He is never softhearted toward enemies.
- ，手软。Cáiyuán de shíhou, jīnglǐ bù néng shǒu ruǎn.When laying off employees, the manager cannot be softhearted.
- 。Tā yí kàn dào háizi kū jiù shǒu ruǎn le.She becomes softhearted as soon as she sees a child cry.
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