strict, hard, solid, tough

About this kanji

The kanji 「堅」 primarily means strict or hard. It is often used as an adjective rather than a verb. You might come across it in words like 中堅 (ちゅうけん), meaning 'nucleus' or 'mid-level'; 堅持 (けんじ), which means 'adhering to a view or policy'; or 堅実 (けんじつ), meaning 'steady' or 'reliable.' Another common compound is 手堅い (てがたい), which translates to 'sound' in the context of decisions or plans. Remember, this kanji generally emphasizes strength and stability, making it useful in various contexts, especially when discussing principles or solid structures.

Example sentences

• 堅い決意を持って挑む。

  I challenge with a firm resolve.

Meanings across languages

English

strict, hard, solid, tough, tight, reliable

Tiếng Việt

nghiêm ngặt, cứng, vững chắc, cứng rắn, chặt chẽ, đáng tin

日本語

けん, かたく, じょうけてい

한국어

엄격한, 딱딱한, 단단한, 굳건한, 조이게, 신뢰할 수 있는

中文

严格, 硬, 坚固, 牢固, 紧密, 可靠

id

ketat, keras

th

เข้มงวด, แข็งแกร่ง

es

estricto, duro

fr

strict, dur

de

streng, hart

pt

rigoroso, duro

Common compounds

• 中堅ちゅうけんnucleus, backbone, mainstay
• 堅持けんじadhering to (a view, policy, etc.), sticking to, holding fast to
• 堅調けんちょうfirm (market), bullish, strong (sales, economy, etc.)
• 堅実けんじつsteady, sound, stable
• 手堅いてがたいsound, sure, safe
• 堅固けんごsolid, strong, firm
• 堅守けんしゅstrong defense, strong defence
• 堅気かたぎhonest, respectable, decent