Young pandas are vulnerable/weak

[angliholic]

Young pandas are vulnerable/weak, so a great deal of care is required.



Are vulnerabe and weak exactly identical in meaning? Thanks.

[Naamplao]

Young pandas are vulnerable/weak, so a great deal of care is required.



Are vulnerable and weak exactly identical in meaning? Thanks.

Not really, something can be strong and vulnerable at the same time. Tigers in India for example are vulnerable due to poaching and loss of natural habitat. They certainly are not weak animals.

[angliholic]

Thanks, Naamplao, for the helpful explanation and illustration.
But "vulnerable" and "weak" are really close in our language, so would you define "vulnerable" in a few words?

[Naamplao]

Thanks, Naamplao, for the helpful explanation and illustration.
But "vulnerable" and "weak" are really close in our language, so would you define "vulnerable" in a few words?

Vulnerable means that you have the potential to suffer greatly. In ancient Troy, you had a mighty warrior called Achilles. He was invincible in battle, except for one part of his body...his heel. He was vulnerable in his heel and eventually died because of an arrow striking him there.

A vulnerability can be due to a weakness but it does not mean you are weak in general.

VULNERABLE Meaning and Definition - Dictionary - eLook.org

Here is a dictionary definition of vulnerable from the above website. You will note that weakness is not mentioned in any of its points.

Definition:

1. [adjective] susceptible to attack; "a vulnerable bridge"
2. [adjective] susceptible to criticism or persuasion or temptation; "vulnerable to bribery"; "an argument vulnerable to refutation"
3. [adjective] capable of being wounded or hurt; "vulnerable parts of the body"
4. [adjective] susceptible to physical or emotional injury; "at a tender age"

Vulnerable may be a synonym for weak in your language but it is not such in English.

[angliholic]

Thanks, Naamplao.