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Words Kanji Guides About

たくましい Japanese meaning | Kotomora

たくましい

た

く

ま

し

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

burly; sturdy; strong (physique)

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's body or build as thick, muscular, and robust. Often used for men.

彼かれはたくましい体からだつきをしている。
He has a sturdy build.

その

選せん

手しゅ

は

腕うで

が

たくましい

。

That athlete has muscular arms.

2

i-adjective

indomitable; strong-willed; resolute

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's spirit, will, or mental toughness. Implies resilience and determination.

彼かの女じょはたくましい精せい神しん力りょくで困こん難なんを乗のり越こえた。
She overcame the hardship with indomitable mental strength.
たくましい野や心しんを持もって起き業ぎょうした。
He started the business with bold ambition.

3

i-adjective

robust; strong (vitality, appetite, growth)

usually written using kana alone

Used for non-physical strength: robust vitality, hearty appetite, strong economic growth, etc. Often in set phrases like たくましい食欲 or たくましい成長.

子こ供どもたちはたくましい食しょく欲よくを見みせた。
The children showed a hearty appetite.
この地ち域いきの経けい済ざいはたくましい成せい長ちょうを遂とげている。
The economy of this region is achieving robust growth.

Written forms

たくましいUsage72%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 逞しい is also common but It is usually written in kana.
逞たくましいUsage28%
Kanji form; widely used and recognized.

Kanji

逞sturdy, brawny, bold

Similar words

がっしり
がっしり describes a solid, stocky build, often with a nuance of being firmly built. たくましい emphasizes muscular, burly strength and can also describe mental or abstract robustness.
強つよい
強い is a general word for 'strong' in many contexts. たくましい adds a nuance of thick, resilient, or indomitable strength, often with a positive, vigorous connotation.

Etymology

Derived from the verb たくましゅう (to be strong/sturdy), which itself may be related to たくま (a strong, sturdy person). The exact origin is uncertain, but the word has been used since classical Japanese.