Takumashii is the Japanese word for ‘tough’, explained

What does “takumashii” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “takumashii” often to mean ‘tough’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. 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 use “takumashii” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “takumashii”
  • Example #1: how to say “tough” in Japanese
• Takumashikunai: the nai form of “takumashii”
  • Example #2: how to say “not tough” in Japanese
• Takumashikatta: the ta form of “takumashii”
  • Example #3: how to say “were strong-willed” in Japanese
• Takumashikute: the te form of “takumashii”
  • Example #4: how to say “strong-willed and” in Japanese
• Takumashikereba: the ba form of “takumashii”
  • Example #5: how to say “if tough” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “takumashii”

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

• takumashii – 逞しい (たくましい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective often to describe someone who is physically or mentally strong.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult. The meanings seem to be based on similar concepts. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ 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 “watashi no imouto” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “takumashii”. 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 “watashi no takumashii imouto” to mean ‘my tough little sister’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “takumashii” 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 “takumashikunai”.

Takumashikunai: the nai form of “takumashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “takumashikunai”.

• takumashikunai – 逞しくない (たくましくない) : the nai form of “takumashii”, which means ‘not tough’, ‘not strong-willed’, ‘not wild’, or such in Japanese.

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

• takumashiku – 逞しく (たくましく) : one conjugation of “takumashii”. 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 “takumashikunai” is literally the nai form of “takumashii” and means ‘not tough’, ‘not strong-willed’, ‘not wild’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• zenzen – 全然 (ぜんぜん) : an adverb working in a negative sentence to mean ‘at all’ or such in Japanese.

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

Takumashikatta: the ta form of “takumashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “takumashikatta”.

• takumashikatta – 逞しかった (たくましかった) : the ta form of “takumashii”, which means ‘was tough’, ‘was strong-willed’, ‘was wild’, or such in Japanese.

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

• takumashikat – 逞しかっ (たくましかっ) : one conjugation of “takumashii”. 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 “takumashikatta” is literally the ta form of “takumashii” and means ‘was tough’, ‘was strong-willed’, ‘was wild’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “were strong-willed” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• gakusei – 学生 (がくせい) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “gakusei” to make its plural form, “gakusei tachi”, which means ‘students’ in Japanese.

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

Takumashikute: the te form of “takumashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “takumashikute”.

• takumashikute – 逞しくて (たくましくて) : the te form of “takumashii”, which means ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese.

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

• takumashiku – 逞しく (たくましく) : one conjugation of “takumashii”. 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 “takumashikute” is literally the te form of “takumashii”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “takumashikute” is very useful when we want to use “takumashii” 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 “strong-willed and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• utsukushii – 美しい (うつくしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘beautiful’ in Japanese.

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

Takumashikereba: the ba form of “takumashii”

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

• takumashikereba – 逞しければ (たくましければ) : the ba form of “takumashii”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese.

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

• takumashikere – 逞しけれ (たくましけれ) : one conjugation of “takumashii”. 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 “takumashikereba” is literally the ba form of “takumashii”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “takumashikereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ 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 “kimi” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “joukyou” to say “this situation” in Japanese.
• joukyou – 状況 (じょうきょう) : a noun meaning ‘situation’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kono joukyou” to make the object in the sentence.
• norikoe – 乗り越え (のりこえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “norikoeru”, which means ‘to get over’ or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• rareru – られる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, this is used after “norikoe” to make its potential form, “norikoe rareru”, which means ‘can get over’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “takumashikereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kimi ga takumashikereba”, which means ‘if you are tough’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

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

• takumashii – 逞しい (たくましい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• takumashikunai – 逞しくない (たくましくない) : the nai form of “takumashii”, which means ‘not tough’, ‘not strong-willed’, ‘not wild’, or such in Japanese.
• takumashikatta – 逞しかった (たくましかった) : the ta form of “takumashii”, which means ‘was tough’, ‘was strong-willed’, ‘was wild’, or such in Japanese.
• takumashikute – 逞しくて (たくましくて) : the te form of “takumashii”, which means ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “takumashii” in front of another i-adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• takumashikereba – 逞しければ (たくましければ) : the ba form of “takumashii”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘tough’, ‘strong-willed’, ‘wild’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.