# 堅 — steadfast; solid

堅 means “steadfast; solid”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 12 strokes. On'yomi: ケン (ken). Kun'yomi: かた(い) (katai). You'll see it in words such as 堅い (katai, “hard; solid”).

- Meaning: steadfast; solid
- On'yomi: ケン (ken)
- Kun'yomi: かた(い) (katai)
- Strokes: 12
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Qualities 2

## How to remember 堅

Parts: 臣 retainer · 又 hand; again · 土 earth

## Words with 堅

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 堅い | かたい (katai) | hard; solid |
| 堅さ | かたさ (katasa) | firmness; hardness |

## Don't confuse it with

[軽](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/light-weight/) · [腎](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/kidney/)

## More in the “Qualities 2” set

[貴](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/noble/) · [紛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/be-confused-with/) · [俊](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/genius/) · [敏](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/agile/) · [堅](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/steadfast/) · [豪](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/mighty/) · [隆](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/swell-up/) · [妙](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/exquisite/) · [雅](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/elegant/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/steadfast/. Last updated 2026-11-01.