頑丈
Meaning in Englishsolid, firm, strong
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
頑丈 means sturdy, robust, or durable; it describes something with strong construction or resilience, capable of withstanding stress or impact, and is commonly used for objects like tools, buildings, or machinery, as well as describing a physically strong person in certain contexts.
Main meanings
- Sturdy physical durability: describes objects that resist damage and wear.
- High structural integrity: used for architecture, equipment, and components designed to be solid.
- Figurative robustness: can refer to a person’s constitution or unwavering resolve in some contexts.
How to use it
Used to describe tangible things with solid construction or resilience, typically appearing as 頑丈なX; common in formal and technical writing, product specifications, and everyday speech when emphasizing durability; less appropriate for abstract traits unless using a different term like 堅牢 or 強固; examples of usage include 頑丈な箱, 頑丈な車, 頑丈に作る.
Variants and close terms
- 堅牢 (kenrō) — solid, secure
- 丈夫 (jōbu) — sturdy
- 頑強 (gankyō) — staunch, robust
- 脆弱 (zeijaku) — fragile, weak
Composition
- 頑: stubborn, firm; conveys unyielding resistance
- 丈: height, length; conveys build or stature and reinforces solidity
Etymology
頑 (stubborn, firm) and 丈 (height, length) combine to form the compound; the reading ganjou reflects the Sino-Japanese on'yomi; the sense of solidity emerges from the semantic fields of the two characters.
Origin
Borrowed from Sino-Japanese sources; attested in classical Chinese as a compound and integrated into Japanese, becoming common in modern usage.
Word class
na-adjective (形容動詞)