Translation guide
The process of becoming hard or making something hard, in physical, metaphorical, or technical senses.
Describing when a material or substance becomes physically hard or solid.
General term for hardening, used for materials, tissues, or abstract things like attitudes.
コンクリートの硬化には時間がかかる。
The hardening of concrete takes time.
動脈硬化は健康に悪い。
Hardening of the arteries is bad for your health.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to harden' or 'to solidify', used for substances like jelly, cement, or ice.
ゼリーが冷蔵庫で固まった。
The jelly hardened in the fridge.
セメントが固まるまで待ってください。
Please wait until the cement hardens.
Transitive verb meaning 'to harden' or 'to solidify' something.
寒天でゼリーを固める。
Harden the jelly with agar.
Stiffening or hardening, often used for muscles or rigid materials. Can imply loss of flexibility.
筋肉が硬直している。
The muscles are stiffening.
Describing when a person's attitude, determination, or a system becomes more rigid or secure.
Also used metaphorically for attitudes or stances becoming rigid.
彼の態度は硬化した。
His attitude hardened.
To make something firm or strong, often used for resolve or security.
決意を強固にした。
I hardened my resolve.
To strengthen or reinforce, commonly used for security hardening.
セキュリティを強化する必要がある。
We need to harden security.
Specialized terms for hardening in fields like metalworking or cybersecurity.
Quenching or hardening metal by heating and rapid cooling.
鋼を焼き入れして硬度を上げる。
Harden the steel by quenching to increase its hardness.
Hardening treatment, used in materials science or computing.
表面硬化処理を施す。
Apply a surface hardening treatment.
Security hardening, specifically in IT contexts.
サーバーのセキュリティ強化が急務だ。
Hardening the server's security is urgent.
固まる is an everyday verb for things solidifying naturally (jelly, ice). 硬化 is more formal and used for materials, medical conditions, or abstract hardening.
English often uses 'hardening' as a noun, but Japanese often prefers verb phrases. Instead of 'the hardening of X', use Xが固まる or Xの硬化.