がっちり

が

っ

ち

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

がっちりする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	がっちりする	がっちりしない
Polite	がっちりします	がっちりしません
Past polite	がっちりしました	がっちりしませんでした
Past	がっちりした	がっちりしなかった
Te-form	がっちりして	がっちりしないで
Desire	がっちりしたい	がっちりしたくない
Potential	がっちりできる	がっちりできない
Passive	がっちりされる	がっちりされない
Causative	がっちりさせる	がっちりさせない
Causative passive	がっちりさせられる	がっちりさせられない
Volitional	がっちりしよう
Polite volitional	がっちりしましょう
Imperative	がっちりしろ	がっちりするな
Conditional	がっちりすれば	がっちりしなければ
Tara conditional	がっちりしたら	がっちりしなかったら

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

solid; robust; well-built

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes physical sturdiness, a strong build, or a firm, unyielding structure. Often used for people, objects, or systems.

彼かれはがっちりした体たい格かくをしている。
He has a solid, well-built physique.
この机つくえはがっちりしていて安あん定てい感かんがある。
This desk is solid and feels stable.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

tight; taut; firmly fastened

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Used when something is tightly secured, pulled taut, or firmly fixed so it doesn't move or loosen.

荷に物もつをがっちり縛しばって運はこんだ。
I tied the luggage tightly and carried it.
蓋ふたをがっちり閉しめてください。
Please close the lid tightly.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

shrewd; calculating; astute

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes a person who is sharp, careful with money or deals, and not easily taken advantage of. Often carries a slightly crafty or business-savvy nuance.

彼かれはがっちりした商しょう売ばい人にんだ。
He is a shrewd businessman.
あの人ひとは金かねにがっちりしている。
That person is tight with money.

See all 19 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉ががっちりした体たい格かくをしているto have a solid, well-built physique
彼かれはがっちりした体たい格かくをしている。
He has a solid, muscular build.
〈物もの〉をがっちり固こ定ていするto firmly fix or fasten something
棚たなを壁かべにがっちり固こ定ていした。
I firmly fastened the shelf to the wall.
がっちり稼かせぐto shrewdly earn a good amount of money
あの店てん主しゅはがっちり稼かせいでいるらしい。
That shopkeeper seems to be shrewdly raking in money.
〈人ひと〉とがっちり手てを組くむto form a solid, firm partnership with someone
二ふたつの会かい社しゃはがっちり手てを組くんで新しん製せい品ひんを開かい発はつした。
The two companies formed a solid partnership to develop a new product.

Related words

しっかりN4
しっかり means 'firmly, steadily, reliably' and focuses on mental or behavioral steadiness, whereas がっちり emphasizes physical solidity or tight structural fastening.
ぎっしりN3sense 2
ぎっしり describes things packed tightly or crammed full, while がっちり describes something being structurally tight or firmly fastened.
頑がん丈じょうN2sense 1
頑丈 describes an object or structure as sturdily built and durable, while がっちり can also describe a person's muscular, well-built physique.
抜ぬけ目めない sense 3
抜け目ない describes someone who is sharp and misses no opportunity for gain, close to がっちり's sense of a shrewd, calculating person.
ぴったりN3
がっちり describes a solid, sturdy grip or build, whereas ぴったり describes a smooth, snug fit without implying strength.

Don't confuse with

がっつり
がっちり sounds similar to がっつり but describes something sturdy or firmly built, not doing something in large amounts.

Word family

がっちり屋や
tightwad; miser; penny-pincher

Written forms

がっちりUsage74%
Standard hiragana spelling for this mimetic adverb.
ガッチリUsage26%
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.

Etymology

A mimetic word (擬態語) of uncertain origin, likely derived from the sound-symbolic root がち (gachi) suggesting hardness or tightness, with the emphatic geminate and り ending common in such adverbs.