Japanese word

硬化

Pronunciation

Romajikōka

Meaning

  • nounhardening

Example

プラスチックが硬化するまで待ちます。pu ra su chi kku ga kō ka su ru ma de ma chi ma su

Wait until the plastic hardens.

Illustration for 硬化 (hardening)

More examples

湿度が高いと、接着剤の硬化に時間がかかります。shitsu do ga taka i to set chaku zai no kō ka ni ji kan ga ka ka ri ma su

When the humidity is high, the adhesive takes longer to harden.

Core concept

Expresses the process by which something loses softness and becomes firm or rigid.

Common phrases

  • 硬化反応kō ka han nō

    hardening reaction

  • 硬化温度kō ka on do

    hardening temperature

Similar words

固化koka: The process in which a material becomes firm and keeps its new solid form.
凝固gyōko: The change of a liquid or soft substance into a solid through cooling or a chemical change.
硬直kōchoku: The state or process of becoming stiff, with little ability to move or bend.

Definition in Japanese

物質や組織などが柔らかい状態から硬い状態に変わること。bus shitsu ya so shiki na do ga yawa ra ka i jō tai ka ra kata i jō tai ni ka wa ru ko to

Word origin

硬化 (kōka) is formed from 硬 (kō, "hard") and 化 (ka, "change into"), describing the process of becoming hard.

Usage tips

  • The English choice for 硬化 (kōka) depends on the context: hardening is broad, curing often concerns materials, and sclerosis concerns abnormal tissue hardening.

Other meanings

  • curingnoun
  • sclerosisnoun

Opposites

  • 軟化nankasofteningnoun

Related words

  • 硬化剤kōkazaihardening agentnoun
  • 硬化物kōkabutsucured materialnoun

Word lists with this word