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.
ダイヤモンドはとても硬い物質だ。
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.
肩が固くて痛い。
My shoulders are stiff and painful.
彼の文章はまだ堅い感じがする。
His writing still feels stiff and unpolished.
strong; firm; not easily moved
Firm and resistant to pressure or change. Used for resolve, belief, or a substance that holds its shape. 固い is common for firm resolve.
彼は固い決意で試験に臨んだ。
He faced the exam with firm determination.
このゼリーは固くて、スプーンが立つ。
This jelly is so firm that a spoon stands up in it.
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.
彼は堅い人で、約束は必ず守る。
He is a steadfast person who always keeps his promises.
あのチームの勝利は固いだろう。
That team's victory seems safe.
父は頭が固くて、新しい考えを受け入れない。
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
式典の雰囲気はとても堅かった。
The atmosphere at the ceremony was very formal and stiff.
彼の話し方は堅すぎて、親しみにくい。
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.
頑丈 describes something sturdy and durable in construction, whereas 硬い focuses on the surface or material being hard to the touch.
硬い is the everyday adjective for 'hard' usable in almost any context, while 硬質 is a more formal noun/adjectival term often used in technical or descriptive writing about materials.
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.
hard cover; stiff cover
Mohs hardness
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing when the kanji distinction is not important or to avoid choosing the wrong kanji.
Irregular kanji usage. Rarely used; may appear in older or specialized texts.