What is the definition of the Japanese word "硬い"?

The Japanese word "硬い" is defined as: "Solid and firm. Resistant to pressure; difficult to break, cut, or penetrate."

Translation of Japanese word "硬い" to English

硬い

かたい

[katai]

IPA: /ka tai/

Adjectives B1

Meaning

Adjective

Solid and firm. Resistant to pressure; difficult to break, cut, or penetrate.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)Last updated: June 16, 2026

How to use

硬い (katai) — 'hard / firm / stiff / formal'. 硬いパン — hard bread. Homophones: 固い (solid), 堅い (dependable).

🇬🇧 English

hard / firm

Usage GuideRefers to a state of hard body.

Pronunciation Guide

Japanese Kanji: 硬い
Phonetic Reading (Hiragana): かたい
Romaji Transcription: katai

Example Sentences

この木は硬いです。

このきはかたいです。

This wood is hard.

私は硬い卵を食べました。

わたしはかたいたまごをたべました。

I ate hard-boiled eggs.

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Frequency rank: #890 in Japanese

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Japanese word "硬い" mean?▼

The Japanese word "硬い" means "hard / firm" in English.

How do you pronounce the Japanese word "硬い"?▼

The word "硬い" is read as "かたい" (katai). You can hear the correct audio pronunciation by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see a usage guide or example with "硬い"?▼

Yes, here is a practical context/example: "Refers to a state of hard body.".

More Adjectives words

大きい(おおきい)小さい(ちいさい)良い(よい)悪い(わるい)新しい(あたらしい)古い(ふるい)高い(たかい)安い(やすい)多い(おおい)少ない(すくない)難しい(むずかしい)簡単(かんたん)

硬い

Frequently Asked Questions

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