solidly built; stocky
Describes a person who is overweight but firm and muscular rather than flabby. Often used for a sturdy, thick-set build.
彼は堅太りで、見た目よりずっと力がある。
He is solidly built and much stronger than he looks.
Sumo wrestlers are usually stocky and solid.
がっしり describes a sturdy, muscular build without necessarily implying excess weight, while 堅太り specifically refers to being overweight but solid.
Standard kanji spelling; 堅 suggests firmness or solidity.
Variant spelling; 固 also conveys hardness or firmness.
Compound of 堅 (かた, 'hard, firm') and 太り (ぶとり, 'fatness, plumpness'), literally 'firm fatness'.