Japanese word

硬い

Pronunciation

Romajikatai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivehard

Example

このパンは硬いです。ko no pa n wa kata i de su

This bread is hard.

Illustration for 硬い (hard)

More examples

この石は硬いです。ko no ishi wa kata i de su

This stone is hard.

時間がたつと、ご飯が硬くなります。ji kan ga ta tsu to go han ga kata ku na ri ma su

Rice gets hard as time passes.

Core concept

Describes something that resists pressure and does not yield or soften easily.

Common phrases

  • 硬いチーズkata i chī zu

    hard cheese

  • 硬い地面kata i ji men

    hard ground

  • 硬い素材kata i so zai

    hard material

Similar words

固いkatai: Describes something that is solid, firm, or not easily changed.

Definition in Japanese

力を加えても形や状態が変わりにくく、柔らかくないさま。chikara o kuwa e te mo katachi ya jō tai ga ka wa ri ni ku ku yawa ra ka ku na i sa ma

Word origin

硬い (katai, "hard") is a native Japanese adjective related to 固い (katai, "firm") and 堅い (katai, "sturdy"); the different kanji distinguish related senses in writing.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 硬い (katai) can describe bread that has lost moisture, so it often suggests an unpleasantly firm texture rather than simple solidity.

Other meanings

  • solidi-adjective
  • toughi-adjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word