硬い

• Reading: かたい
• Romaji: katai
• Kanji breakdown: 硬 (kō/kata) — hard, rigid, stiff
• Pronunciation: /ka.ta.i/

Meaning

Hard; solid; firm. Describes something rigid or not easily bent or broken.

An i-adjective with several related meanings. 硬い specifically refers to physical hardness or rigidity (a hard surface, stiff muscles). Japanese has multiple kanji for かたい: 硬い (physically hard/rigid), 固い (firm/solid), and 堅い (sturdy/reliable). At the N4 level, they are often interchangeable, but 硬い is most common for physical hardness.

Examples

1. このパンは少し硬いですね。 This bread is a bit hard, isn't it?
2. 長く座っていたので体が硬くなった。 My body got stiff from sitting for a long time.
3. この肉は硬くて食べにくい。 This meat is tough and hard to eat.

Usage Guide

Context: food, physical descriptions, materials

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese かたし (katashi). The kanji 硬 contains 石 (stone) as its radical, emphasising physical hardness or rigidity.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal