Katai is the Japanese word for ‘hard’, ‘firm’, or ‘solid’, explained

What does “katai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “katai” to mean ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “katai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “katai”
  • Example #1: how to say “hard” in Japanese
• Katakunai: the nai form of “katai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not hard” in Japanese
• Katakatta: the ta form of “katai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was hard” in Japanese
• Katakute: the te form of “katai”
  • Example #4: how to say “hard and” in Japanese
• Katakereba: the ba form of “katai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if hard” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “katai”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “katai”.

• katai – 固い/硬い/堅い (かたい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something which is not easily deformed. So, its usage is very similar to those of the English adjectives above, I think.

“Katai” has three different kanji expressions, but Japanese native speakers normally use the first one. So, Japanese learners can basically focus on it as well.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “hard” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ringo” to say “this apple” in Japanese.
• ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono ringo” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “katai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “katai ringo” to mean a ‘hard apple’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “katai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “katakunai”.

Katakunai: the nai form of “katai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “katakunai”.

• katakunai – 固くない/硬くない/堅くない (かたくない) : the nai form of “katai”, which means ‘not hard’, ‘not firm’, ‘not solid’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “katakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• kataku – 固く/硬く/堅く (かたく) : one conjugation of “katai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “katakunai” is literally the nai form of “katai” and means ‘not hard’, ‘not firm’, ‘not solid’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not hard” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• momo – 桃 (もも) : a noun meaning ‘peach’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “katakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not hard’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Katakatta: the ta form of “katai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “katakatta”.

• katakatta – 固かった/硬かった/堅かった (かたかった) : the ta form of “katai”, which means ‘was hard’, ‘was firm’, ‘was solid’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “katakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• katakat – 固かっ/硬かっ/堅かっ (かたかっ) : one conjugation of “katai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “katakatta” is literally the ta form of “katai” and means ‘was hard’, ‘was firm’, ‘was solid’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was hard” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ryokan – 旅館 (りょかん) : a noun meaning ‘Japanese traditional hotel’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “ryokan” and “futon”. The formed phrase literally means ‘a futon at a Japanese traditional hotel’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions.
• futon – 布団 (ふとん) : a noun meaning ‘futon’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “ryokan no futon” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “katakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “katai”, this ta form is the best option.

Katakute: the te form of “katai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “katakute”.

• katakute – 固くて/硬くて/堅くて (かたくて) : the te form of “katai”, which means ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “katakute” consists of the following two parts:

• kataku – 固く/硬く/堅く (かたく) : one conjugation of “katai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “katakute” is literally the te form of “katai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “katakute” is very useful when we want to use “katai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “hard and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• suika – 西瓜 (すいか) : a noun meaning ‘watermelon’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• chiisai – 小さい (ちいさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘small’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “katakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “chiisai”. When we want to use “katai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Katakereba: the ba form of “katai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “katakereba”.

• katakereba – 固ければ/硬ければ/堅ければ (かたければ) : the ba form of “katai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “katakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• katakere – 固けれ/硬けれ/堅けれ (かたけれ) : one conjugation of “katai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “katakereba” is literally the ba form of “katai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “katakereba” to make a conditional cause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if hard” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• ne – 寝 (ね) : one conjugation of the verb, “neru“, which means ‘to go bed’ or ‘to sleep’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• rare – られ : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, “rareru”, which is used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. In the example, this is used after “ne rare” to deny its meaning, ‘can sleep’.

This is a typical usage of “katakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “futon ga katakereba”, which means ‘if a futon is hard’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “katai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• katai – 固い/硬い/堅い (かたい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• katakunai – 固くない/硬くない/堅くない (かたくない) : the nai form of “katai”, which means ‘not hard’, ‘not firm’, ‘not solid’, or such in Japanese.
• katakatta – 固かった/硬かった/堅かった (かたかった) : the ta form of “katai”, which means ‘was hard’, ‘was firm’, ‘was solid’, or such in Japanese.
• katakute – 固くて/硬くて/堅くて (かたくて) : the te form of “katai”, which means ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “katai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• katakereba – 固ければ/硬ければ/堅ければ (かたければ) : the ba form of “katai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.