JLPT N1 · 12 strokes
Kanji 堅: "strict, hard, solid"
The kanji 堅 means "strict, hard, solid, tough, tight, reliable". It is written with 12 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read ケン in on'yomi and かた.い, がた.い in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ケン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
かた.いがた.い
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | strict, hard, solid, tough, tight, reliable |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 1049 of 2,501 |
Common words with 堅
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 堅苦しいformal; stiff; strict; ceremonious
- 堅実steady; sound; stable; safe (e.g. business)
- 堅牢solid; strong; sturdy; durable
- 堅物straight-laced person; stubborn person
- 堅固solid; strong; firm
- 中堅nucleus; backbone; mainstay; key figure · medium-level; mid-level; middle-ranking; midsize
- お堅いstrict; formal; strait-laced; stuffy
- 義理堅いpossessed of a strong sense of duty
- 堅気honest; respectable; decent · respectable occupation (i.e. not yakuza, prostitute, etc.)
- 手堅いsound; sure; safe; secure · steady; firm
- 堅strength; solidity; firmness · armour; armor
- 口が堅いtight-lipped; able to keep a secret
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