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お堅い (おかたい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
i-adjective
prudish ; strait-laced ; square ; boring
colloquial
Colloquial adjective describing a person or atmosphere that is overly serious, rigid, or lacking in fun. Often used for someone who is strict about rules or conventional morals.
あの 会かい 社しゃ は お 堅かた い 雰ふん 囲い 気き で 、 自じ 由ゆう な 服ふく 装そう は 許ゆる さ れ ない 。
That company has a stuffy atmosphere and doesn't allow casual clothes.
Similar words 堅かた い 堅い means 'hard' or 'stiff' in a physical sense, or 'strict' in a general sense. お堅い is a colloquial, prefixed form specifically for describing prudish or overly serious people/atmospheres.
真面目まじめ 真面目 means 'serious' or 'diligent' with a positive nuance. お堅い has a negative or teasing nuance, implying excessive rigidity or lack of fun.
Etymology Formed from the adjective 堅い (かたい, 'hard, strict') with the honorific prefix お, giving a colloquial and slightly mocking tone.
