Japanese symbol for “hardening”
固め
かため
Romaji: katame
hardening; fortifying
In Japanese, hardening is 固め, read かため (katame).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n hardening; fortifying
- n pledge; vow
- n defense; defence; guarding
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “hardening”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 硬化 | こうか kouka | hardening; vulcanization; vulcanisation |
| 焼入れ | やきいれ yakiire | quenching; hardening; tempering |
| 凝り | しこり shikori | lump (in tissue, esp. breast); swelling; hardening |
| 固結 | こけつ koketsu | hardening; consolidation |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 固定 | こてい kotei | fixing (in place); being fixed (in place); securing |
| 固有 | こゆう koyuu | characteristic (of); peculiar (to); inherent (in) |
| 頑固 | がんこ ganko | stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded |
| 固める | かためる katameru | to harden; to freeze; to strengthen |
| 固体 | こたい kotai | solid (body); solid matter; solid-state |
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.