硬い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 硬い | 硬くない |
| Polite | 硬いです | 硬くないですalso 硬くありません |
| Past polite | 硬かったです | 硬くなかったですalso 硬くありませんでした |
| Past | 硬かった | 硬くなかった |
| Te-form | 硬くて | 硬くなくて |
| Adverbial | 硬く | |
| Conditional | 硬ければ | 硬くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 硬かったら | 硬くなかったら |
Physical hardness or solidity. 硬い is typical for metal and stone; 固い for firm, solid objects; 堅い for wood and compact materials.
This bread is so hard I can't bite through it.
Diamond is a very hard substance.
stiff; tight; wooden; unpolished
Lacking flexibility or smoothness. Can describe muscles, joints, writing style, or a formal atmosphere. 堅い is common for stiff writing or formal demeanor.
My shoulders are stiff and painful.
His writing still feels stiff and unpolished.
steadfast; honest; safe; obstinate
Describes a person's character as reliable and upright, or stubbornly inflexible. 堅い is typical for a trustworthy person; 固い can imply stubbornness. Also used for a safe bet or steady performance.
He is a steadfast person who always keeps his promises.
That team's victory seems safe.
My father is stubborn and won't accept new ideas.
Overly formal, rigid, or lacking casual warmth. Often used for speech, writing, or atmosphere. 堅い is the typical kanji for this sense.
Antonyms: くだけた
The atmosphere at the ceremony was very formal and stiff.
His way of speaking is too stiff and hard to warm up to.
This steak's meat is tough.
His expression was stiff during the interview.
His resolve was so firm that no one could change it.
The meetings always consist of stiff, formal topics.
Her voice sounded tense over the phone.
硬い describes something stiff or rigid, the direct opposite of しなやか's supple flexibility.
硬い means hard or stiff, the direct opposite of 柔らか describing physical texture.
硬い means hard or rigid (of an object) or inflexible (of an attitude), the direct opposite of 柔軟.
硬い means physically hard or firm, contrasting with やわ's sense of softness or lack of firmness.
Mohs hardness
Irregular kanji usage. Rarely used; may appear in older or specialized texts.