きつい

i-adjective

determined; strong-minded; forceful

Used for a person's personality, attitude, or way of speaking that is assertive, unyielding, or intimidating.

• 彼かの女じょはきつい性せい格かくだが、仕し事ごとはできる。

  She has a forceful personality, but she's good at her job.

• 上じょう司しにきつい言いい方かたをされて落おち込こんだ。

  I felt down after my boss spoke to me harshly.

i-adjective

strong; intense; severe

Describes a stimulus such as sunlight, alcohol, or a smell that is overpowering or hard to tolerate.

• この酒さけはきついから、少すこしだけにしておこう。

  This alcohol is strong, so I'll just have a little.

• 夏なつの日ひ差ざしがきつくて、外そとに出でられない。

  The summer sunlight is so intense I can't go outside.

i-adjective

tight; constricting; close-fitting

Used for clothing, shoes, or accessories that are uncomfortably tight or restrictive.

• この靴くつはちょっときついので、ワンサイズ上うえをください。

  These shoes are a bit tight, so please give me one size up.

• スカートのウエストがきつくなってきた。

  The waist of my skirt has become tight.

i-adjective

extreme; unusually strong

Used in a limited way to describe something that is excessively strong or goes beyond normal limits, often in set phrases like きつい口調 or きつい条件.

• あの先せん生せいはきつい口く調ちょうで生せい徒とを叱しかる。

  That teacher scolds students in a harsh tone.

• 契けい約やくの条じょう件けんがきつすぎて、サインできなかった。

  The contract terms were too extreme, so I couldn't sign.