固かためる

ichidan verb, transitive verb

harden; solidify; compact; make a fist

Physical use: make something hard, solid, firm, or compact. Setting food, packing down snow or dirt, and clenching one's fist are also used.

See also: 土を固める (つちをかためる)

• ゼラチンでゼリーを固かためる。

  Set the jelly with gelatin.

• 雪ゆきを踏ふんで固かため、道みちを作つくった。

  We tramped down the snow and made a path.

• 彼かれは怒おこって拳こぶしを固かためた。

  He clenched his fist in anger.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

put together; gather; consolidate

Used when separate things are arranged into one group, cluster, block, or consolidated unit rather than left scattered.

• 机つくえを部屋へやの奥おくに固かためて配はい置ちした。

  We placed the desks together at the back of the room.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

make secure; stabilize; settle down; establish

Abstract use for making a decision, position, evidence, or life situation firm and reliable. 身を固める commonly means to settle down, often by marrying or establishing a stable life.

See also: 身を固める (みをかためる)

• 彼かれは留りゅう学がくする決けつ意いを固かためた。

  He made up his mind to study abroad.

• 警けい察さつは逮たい捕ほ前まえに証しょう拠こを固かためた。

  The police established the evidence before making the arrest.

• そろそろ身みを固かためたいと思おもっている。

  I'm thinking it's about time to settle down.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

fortify; reinforce; surround with support

Used for strengthening a defense, position, or surrounding arrangement. It can also describe something being completely supported or made up by a material or basis, as in 嘘で固める.

See also: 国境を固める (こっきょうをかためる) · 嘘で固める (うそでかためる)

• チームは一いっ点てんを守まもるために守しゅ備びを固かためた。

  The team tightened its defense to protect the one-point lead.

• 城しろの周しゅう囲いを兵へいで固かためた。

  They fortified the area around the castle with soldiers.

• 彼かれの説せつ明めいは嘘うそで固かためられていた。

  His explanation was built entirely on lies.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

dress oneself in; equip oneself with

Fixed-pattern use in the form に身を固める, meaning to dress or equip oneself in clothing or gear for a particular purpose.

• 登と山ざん者しゃたちは防ぼう寒かん具ぐに身みを固かためて出しゅっ発ぱつした。

  The climbers set out dressed in cold-weather gear.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

make a solemn vow; swear firmly

Formal or solemn use, often with 誓い or 約束, emphasizing that a vow or promise is made firm and resolute.

• 二人ふたりは神しん前ぜんで夫ふう婦ふの誓ちかいを固かためた。

  The two made their marriage vows before the shrine.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

tie tightly; fasten firmly

Rare or old-fashioned use for fastening something tightly; modern Japanese usually uses verbs such as 締める or 結ぶ for ordinary tying.

• 古ふるい表ひょう現げんでは、「帯おびを固かためる」は帯おびをしっかり締しめることをいう。

  In older expression, 帯を固める means to fasten one's sash tightly.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

hold a bow fully drawn

Specialized archery-related use for keeping a bow fully drawn; not a common everyday meaning of 固める.

• 弓きゅう道どうの説せつ明めいでは、「弓ゆみを固かためる」は弓ゆみを十じゅう分ぶんに引ひいたまま保たもつことを指さす。

  In archery explanations, 弓を固める refers to holding a bow fully drawn.