温和 (wēnhé) is an adjective meaning 'gentle' or 'mild', describing a person’s temperament, tone of voice, weather, or even the nature of substances like medicine or light. The character 温 (wēn) means 'warm' or 'lukewarm', evoking comfort and softness; 和 (hé) means 'harmonious' or 'peaceful', suggesting balance and absence of conflict. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes calm, non-aggressive qualities — not just physical mildness, but emotional restraint and kindness.

This word is commonly used to describe people (e.g., a teacher’s demeanor), natural phenomena (e.g., a gentle breeze), or abstract concepts (e.g., a moderate policy). It carries a positive, respectful connotation and is frequently found in formal writing and polite speech. Unlike stronger terms like 温柔 (wēnróu, 'tender') or 和蔼 (hé’ǎi, 'kindly'), 温和 focuses more on steadiness and lack of extremity than on affection or warmth per se.