硬い

Japanese

Etymology

From Old Japanese. First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) かたい (Heiban – )
• IPA^(key):

Adjective

硬(かた)い • (katai) -i (adverbial 硬(かた)く (kataku))

1. Keeping a material's shape that does not crack or break apart; hard.

   その研究所(けんきゅうじょ)はC６０(シーろくじゅう)ナノ・ロッドを使(つか)ってダイヤモンドより硬(かた)い材料(ざいりょう)を開発(かいはつ)した。

   Sono kenkyūjo wa shī-rokujū nano roddo o tsukatte daiyamondo yori katai zairyō o kaihatsu shita.

   The lab developed a harder material than a diamond by using C60 nano-rods.

2. Keeping one's appearance or facial expression; serious.

   緊張(きんちょう)していたのだろうか、彼(かれ)は硬(かた)い表情(ひょうじょう)をして法廷(ほうてい)に入(はい)ってきた。

   Kinchō shite ita no darō ka, kare wa katai hyōjō o shite hōtei ni haitte kita.

   Perhaps because he was nervous, he entered the courtroom with a serious expression.

Inflection

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “keeping a shape”): もろい (moroi)
• (antonym(s) of “keeping an appearance”): 軟(やわ)らかい (yawarakai)

See also

• 固(かた)い (katai)
• 堅(かた)い (katai)

References