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坚硬 (jiān yìng) — hard, solid

Definition

Emphasizes physical hardness — a material that resists pressure or breaking, more extreme than 硬. Unlike 坚固 or 坚实, it focuses on density/toughness rather than structural sturdiness.

adjective
hardsolid

Examples

  • 坚硬，。
    Zhè zhǒng jīn shǔ fēi cháng jiān yìng, kě yǐ chéng shòu hěn dà de zhòng liàng.
    This kind of metal is very hard and can bear great weight.
  • 坚硬，。
    Zhè ge jiān guǒ de wài ké hěn jiān yìng, xū yào yòng gōng jù cái néng dǎ kāi.
    The shell of this nut is very hard; you need to use a tool to open it.
  • 坚硬，。
    Tā de yì zhì shí fēn jiān yìng, cóng bú tuì suō.
    His will is very strong and he never backs down.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

坚jiānfirm
硬yìnghard

坚 means firm and 硬 means hard; together they describe solid hardness.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

Open 坚 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
更
更gèng硬yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

硬 is built from 石, meaning stone, to show hardness or stiffness, and 更, which gives the sound.

Open 硬 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Texture & Quality

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