Describes a person, lifestyle, or occupation that is law-abiding and socially respectable, often contrasted with the underworld or shady professions.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
respectable occupation; person with a respectable job
Specifically refers to a job or person outside the criminal or red-light districts; often used in contrast with yakuza or sex workers.
He left the yakuza and became a law-abiding citizen.
He runs an honest business.
Don't mess with decent people.
I want to get a respectable job.
堅気 describes a law-abiding, respectable person, the direct opposite of ヤクザ as a member of organized crime.
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and general writing.
Katakana spelling sometimes used for emphasis or in informal contexts.
Compound of 堅 (かた, 'firm, solid') and 気 (き, 'spirit, nature'), with rendaku voicing to ぎ. The literal sense of 'solid character' evolved to mean a person or occupation that is honest and law-abiding, especially in contrast to the criminal underworld.