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口堅い (くちがたい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

口くち堅がたい

く

ち

が

た

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

discreet; tight-lipped

Describes a person who does not easily reveal secrets or private matters; reliable in keeping confidences.

彼かれは口くち堅がたいから、秘ひ密みつを話はなしても大だい丈じょう夫ぶだ。
He is tight-lipped, so it's safe to tell him a secret.

口くち

堅がた

い

人ひと

に

相そう

談だん

する

の

が

一いち

番ばん

だ

。

It's best to consult someone who is discreet.

Written forms

口くち堅がたい
Standard kanji spelling.
口くち固がたい
Variant spelling; 固い emphasizes firmness, but 口堅い is more common.

Kanji

口mouth
堅strict, hard, solid
固harden, set, clot

Similar words

口くちが堅かたい
Phrasal equivalent with the same meaning; 口堅い is the adjective form, while 口が堅い is a common set phrase.
無む口くち
Means 'taciturn' or 'silent' in general, not specifically about keeping secrets.

Etymology

Compound of 口 (mouth) and 堅い (hard, firm), literally 'firm-mouthed'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent.