What is the Kanji for "Hard"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Hard", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Hard" is "固".

This kanji has 2 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Kata".

Its onyomi reading is "Ko".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "囗" means "Box" . And The kanji "古" means "Old" and can be read as "Ko" and "Furu".

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "固" mean in japanese?

"固" means "Hard".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Fourth Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N2 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

固い: "Hard" or "Stiff". The Japanese adjective '固い (かたい)' means 'hard' or 'stiff'. This adjective is used to describe things that have a firm, solid, or unyielding quality. It can be applied to physical objects like metal or stone, as well as abstract concepts like a person's attitude or resolve. For example: The rock is hard - (岩は固い). He has a hard personality - (彼は性格が固い).

固定: "Fix". The verbal noun '固定 (こてい)' means 'to fix'. It refers to the action of securing or fastening something in place, making it stationary or stable. This word can be used in various contexts, such as fixing a broken object, setting up equipment, or establishing a permanent arrangement. For example: I need to fix this table - (この机を固定する必要がある). The prices are fixed - (価格は固定されている).

固有: "Inherent". The Japanese adjectival noun '固有 (こゆう)' means 'inherent'. It refers to something that is innate, essential or intrinsic to the nature of a person or thing. It is often used to describe qualities, characteristics or attributes that are fundamental and cannot be separated from the subject. For example: The company has an inherent advantage over its competitors - (その会社には競争相手に対する固有の優位性がある). This writer has an inherent talent for storytelling - (この作家には物語を紡ぐ固有の才能がある).

頑固: "Stubborn". The adjectival noun '頑固 (がんこ)' means 'stubborn'. It describes someone who is unwilling to change their beliefs or behaviors, even when faced with reasonable arguments or evidence to the contrary. This word often implies a negative connotation, suggesting that the person is rigid, inflexible, and resistant to compromise. For example: He is so stubborn and refuses to listen to any other opinions - (彼は非常に頑固で、他人の意見を聞こうとしない). Her stubbornness prevented her from accepting the new changes - (彼女の頑固な性格のため、新しい変化を受け入れられなかった).

固める: "Solidify". The Japanese verb '固める (かためる)' means 'to solidify'. This verb is used to describe the process of transforming something from a liquid or soft state into a solid or rigid state, like hardening clay or cement. It can also be used metaphorically to describe making something firm or resolute, such as one's resolve or determination. For example: The clay was solidified in the kiln - (粘土は窯で固められた). I solidified my decision to move abroad - (私は海外に移住する決心を固めた).

固まり: "Lump". The Japanese noun '固まり (かたまり)' means 'lump'. This word refers to a compact mass or cluster of something, such as a lump of sugar, a lump of clay, or a clump of dirt. It can also be used to describe a group or collection of things that are stuck together. For example: A lump of sugar - (砂糖の固まり). There was a lump in the dough - (生地の中に固まりがあった).

固より: "Naturally" or "Of course". The adverb '固より (もとより)' means 'naturally' or 'of course'. It is used to indicate that something is inherent, obvious or expected. It can be used to emphasize a point or to acknowledge something as self-evident. For example: Of course I will help you - (固より私があなたを助けます). I naturally agree with your decision - (私は固より貴方の決定に同意します).

固まる: "Harden" or "Solidify". The Japanese verb '固まる (かたまる)' means 'to harden' or 'to solidify'. It describes the process of a substance changing from a liquid or soft state into a firmer, more solid state. This can happen with physical substances like clay, ice, or glue, but it can also apply to more abstract concepts like emotions or decisions becoming 'set'. Examples: The clay hardened as it dried - (粘土が乾いて固まった). His heart hardened after the tragedy - (その悲劇の後、彼の心は固まった).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "こ" is read as "ko". The hiragana "か" is read as "ka". And The hiragana "た" is read as "ta".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.