たくましい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | たくましい | たくましくない |
| Polite | たくましいです | たくましくないですalso たくましくありません |
| Past polite | たくましかったです | たくましくなかったですalso たくましくありませんでした |
| Past | たくましかった | たくましくなかった |
| Te-form | たくましくて | たくましくなくて |
| Adverbial | たくましく | |
| Conditional | たくましければ | たくましくなければ |
| Tara conditional | たくましかったら | たくましくなかったら |
burly; sturdy; strong (physique)
Describes a person's body or build as thick, muscular, and robust. Often used for men.
He has a sturdy build.
That athlete has muscular arms.
indomitable; strong-willed; resolute
Describes a person's spirit, will, or mental toughness. Implies resilience and determination.
She overcame the hardship with indomitable mental strength.
He started the business with bold ambition.
robust; strong (vitality, appetite, growth)
Used for non-physical strength: robust vitality, hearty appetite, strong economic growth, etc. Often in set phrases like たくましい食欲 or たくましい成長.
The children showed a hearty appetite.
The economy of this region is achieving robust growth.
He had a sturdy build and carried the luggage with ease.
She has overcome hardships with an indomitable spirit.
He has such a wild imagination that he always exaggerates stories.
The children grew up strong and resilient out in nature.
He ate three servings of rice with a hearty appetite.
There are people who tenaciously survived the war era.
たくましい describes a sturdy, robust build or spirit and is often used admiringly of people's physique or resilience, while タフ is a more casual, modern loanword covering both physical and mental toughness.
たくましい praises robust, strong-willed resilience with a positive tone, while しぶとい can carry a hint of stubbornness or annoyance at someone's persistence.