娇嫩 (jiāo nèn) is an adjective meaning 'delicate' or 'tender', often describing things that are soft, fragile, and easily damaged—especially living things like young plants, baby animals, or human skin. The character 娇 conveys a sense of fragility, charm, or vulnerability (as in 'spoiled' or 'dainty'), while 嫩 means 'tender', 'young', or 'unripe', commonly used for fresh vegetables, new leaves, or youthful flesh. Together, they intensify the idea of delicate physical texture and sensitivity.

This word carries a gentle, slightly poetic tone and is frequently used in descriptive writing—such as nature essays, skincare advertisements, or children’s literature—to evoke tenderness and care. It rarely describes abstract concepts or people’s personalities; instead, it focuses on physical delicacy and biological youthfulness. You’ll often see it paired with nouns like 皮肤 (skin), 花瓣 (petals), 幼崽 (young animals), or 新芽 (new sprouts).