adverb taking the 'to' particle
Mimetic adverb describing the sound or state of teeth chattering, often from cold or fear. Used with と.
It was so cold my teeth were chattering.
My teeth chattered from the cold.
Describes a person or body part frozen stiff, or rigid with nervousness. Used as a na-adjective.
My body went stiff from nervousness.
na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
rigid; inflexible; overly serious
Describes a personality, mindset, or attitude that is stubborn, inflexible, or excessively serious. Used as a na-adjective or no-adjective.
He has a rigid way of thinking.
I got so nervous my body went completely stiff.
He's so rigid-minded that he won't accept new ideas.
Before the exam I studied nonstop without a break.
堅物 is a noun labeling a person who is stubbornly serious, while ガチガチ is an adjective describing that same inflexible quality.
ガチガチ describes an even harder or more intense rigidity (e.g. teeth chattering, frozen solid), while カチカチ suggests a lighter or moderate stiffness or ticking sound.
カチガチ describes something hard and solid (or a ticking sound), while ガチガチ describes chattering, stiffness, or intense effort.
Common katakana spelling for this mimetic word.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it is likely derived from the sound of hard objects hitting each other or chattering.