Translation guide
The English word 'hard' covers many meanings: physical firmness, difficulty, intensity, and more. Japanese uses different words for each. This guide helps you choose the right one.
Describing something physically firm, solid, or resistant to pressure.
General word for 'hard' as in firm, stiff, or solid. Used for materials, food, muscles, etc.
このパンは硬い。
This bread is hard.
硬いベッドで寝ると背中が痛くなる。
Sleeping on a hard bed makes my back hurt.
Often used for things that are firm, tight, or solid in a structural sense, like a firm handshake or a tight knot. Overlaps with 硬い.
Used for things that are solid, sturdy, or reliable, often in abstract or figurative contexts (e.g., a solid reputation). Less common for physical hardness.
Describing something that requires great effort or is not easy.
Describing something done with great force, intensity, or severity.
Describing a person, rule, or condition that is severe or uncompromising.
Describing water with high mineral content or strong alcoholic drinks.
Describing something physical or tangible, as opposed to digital or soft.
All read かたい. 硬い is for physical hardness (hard bread, hard material). 固い is for firmness, tightness, or solidity (firm handshake, tight knot). 堅い is for reliability, solidity in abstract sense (solid business, stiff expression). In many cases 硬い and 固い are interchangeable, but 堅い is more limited.
The loanword ハード (hādo) is used for 'hard' in contexts like hardware, hard disk, or hard schedule, but not for 'difficult'. Saying このテストはハードだ sounds unnatural; use 難しい instead.
Exchange a firm handshake.
この結び目は固い。
This knot is tight.
He runs a solid business.
The most common word for 'difficult' or 'hard' in the sense of challenging.
この問題は難しい。
This problem is hard.
日本語を学ぶのは難しい。
Learning Japanese is hard.
Means 'tough' or 'hard' in the sense of demanding or strenuous. Often used for tasks or situations.
A more formal or written word for 'difficult' or 'hard', often used for serious challenges.
困難な状況に直面している。
We are facing a hard situation.
Used for intense, violent, or severe actions, such as hard rain, hard work, or a hard hit.
激しい雨が降っている。
It's raining hard.
彼は激しくトレーニングする。
He trains hard.
Adverbial form of 'strong', used for hitting hard, pressing hard, etc.
ボールを強く打った。
I hit the ball hard.
強く押してください。
Please push hard.
Means 'with all one's might' or 'very hard', used for working hard, studying hard, etc.
彼は一生懸命働いている。
He works hard.
一生懸命勉強した。
I studied hard.
Adverb meaning 'firmly', 'tightly', or 'properly'. Used for holding hard, gripping hard, or doing something thoroughly.
しっかりつかまって。
Hold on hard.
しっかり考えてください。
Please think hard about it.
Common word for strict, harsh, or severe. Used for teachers, rules, criticism, etc.
Means emotionally or physically hard to bear, painful, tough. Used for hard times, hard life, etc.
人生は辛いこともある。
Life can be hard sometimes.
別れるのは辛かった。
It was hard to say goodbye.
The specific term for 'hard water'.
この地域の水は硬水だ。
The water in this area is hard.
Literally 'strong alcohol', used for hard liquor.
彼は強い酒が好きだ。
He likes hard liquor.
Loanword from English 'hard liquor', understood but less common.
ハードリカーは苦手です。
I'm not good with hard liquor.
Loanword for 'hard copy', widely used in business/tech contexts.
ハードコピーをください。
Please give me a hard copy.
Means 'solid evidence' or 'hard evidence'. 確固たる means firm or solid.
確固たる証拠が必要だ。
We need hard evidence.