soft

Compared meaning: gentle or not extreme in manner, degree, or weather (adjective).

比较义项：温和、不过分、不强烈（用于语气、举止、程度或天气等）（形容词）。

• soft 本词

  Describes a quality that is not harsh, loud, or bright, especially sound, light, or texture; neutral, everyday register; usually describes a physical sensation rather than a person's temperament or a measured degree.

  形容不刺耳、不刺眼或质地柔和的性质，多用于声音、光线或触感；语域中性、日常，常描述物理感觉，而非人的性情或可衡量的程度。

  The lamp gave off a soft light that didn't hurt her eyes.

  台灯发出柔和的光线，不会刺痛她的眼睛。

• moderate

  Describes something at a medium level, not extreme, especially amount, intensity, or frequency; a more formal, measurement-like word, common in health, weather, and behavior contexts such as moderate exercise or moderate drinking.

  形容处于中等水平、不极端，尤指数量、强度或频率；语气较正式、偏重度量，常见于健康、天气和行为语境，如 moderate exercise（适度运动）或 moderate drinking（适度饮酒）。

  Doctors recommend moderate exercise for people with heart problems.

  医生建议心脏有问题的人进行适度的运动。

• gentle

  Describes kind, careful, calm behavior toward a person or animal, or a soft physical action like a touch or breeze; emphasizes tenderness and care, not merely the absence of harshness.

  形容对人或动物友善、细心、平和的举止，或轻柔的动作（如触摸、微风）；强调温柔体贴，而不只是不粗暴。

  The vet was extremely gentle while examining the frightened puppy.

  兽医在检查这只受惊的小狗时非常温柔。

• mild

  Describes something weak or moderate in intensity, especially weather, flavor, or illness; can also describe a calm, inoffensive personality; slightly more formal than soft, and common in weather and food contexts.

  形容强度较弱或适中，尤指天气、口味或病情；也可形容性情平和、不冒犯人；语气比 soft 略正式，常见于天气和食物语境。

  The weather in spring here is usually mild, neither hot nor cold.

  这里春天的天气通常很温和，不冷不热。

Soft, moderate, gentle, and mild all mean not harsh or extreme. Soft and gentle describe a tone, manner, or gentle touch. Moderate and mild describe a measured degree, often in weather or amount. Not compared: soft fabric, moderate as verb/noun, or mild illness.

这四个词都表示“温和、不激烈”，但侧重不同：soft 和 gentle 偏重语气、动作等待人接物或物理感官上的温和，moderate 和 mild 偏重程度、天气等客观状态的适中。这里不比较 soft 表示“质地柔软”（如 soft fabric）、moderate 作动词“缓和、主持”或作名词“温和派人士”、以及 mild 表示“病情轻微”（如 a mild cold）等其他含义。