Skip to content
Kotomora

硬

stiff, hard

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • かた.い

Meaning

硬 centers on physical rigidity: something stiff and hard, resistant to pressure or deformation.

Most common words using 硬

20 of 117
  • 硬いかたい
    N4

    hard; solid; tough

  • 硬貨こうか
    N3

    coin

  • 強硬きょうこう
    N1

    firm; strong; unbending; unyielding; uncompromising; stubborn; tough; hard-line

  • 硬化こうか
    N1

    hardening; vulcanization; vulcanisation; sclerosis; curing

  • 硬式こうしき

    hard (esp. of hardball, tennis, etc.)

  • 硬直こうちょく

    stiffening; rigidity; rigor; stiffness; ossification; petrification

  • 硬派こうは

    hard-liners; diehards; hawks

  • 硬度こうど

    hardness; solidity

  • 硬質こうしつ

    hardness; stiffness

  • 肝硬変かんこうへん

    cirrhosis (of the liver)

  • 硬水こうすい

    hard water

  • 硬筆こうひつ

    pen or pencil

  • 硬軟こうなん

    hardness and softness; hard line and moderate line

  • 硬性こうせい

    hardness

  • 硬球こうきゅう

    hard ball; regulation ball

  • 動脈硬化どうみゃくこうか

    arteriosclerosis; hardening of the arteries

  • 硬さかたさ
    N1

    firmness; hardness; stiffness; honesty

  • 硬骨こうこつ

    bone

  • ひっかき硬さひっかきかたさ

    scratch hardness

  • アテローム性動脈硬化アテロームせいどうみゃくこうか

    atherosclerosis

Explore all words using 硬 →

Study

Etymology

硬 combines 石 (stone) with 更, which likely contributes the sound and reinforces the idea of hardness or rigidity associated with stone.

Meaning mnemonic

Stone 石 on the left and 更 on the right: imagine a stone so hard that even trying to change (更) it is impossible. 硬 means stiff and hard like stone.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, picture a hard stone that makes a loud 'koh!' sound when struck: koh -> コウ, and the stone is stiff and unyielding.