頑 健(がんけん)

がんけん

na-adjective

sturdy, robust, hardy

1. sturdy, robust, hardy, tough

Describes someone with a strong, durable physical constitution that resists illness and hardship. Suggests rugged health and resilience.

頑健(がんけん)な体(からだ)

a sturdy body

祖母(そぼ)は頑健(がんけん)で、風邪(かぜ)ひとつ引(ひ)かない。

My grandmother is robust and never catches a cold.

農作業(のうさぎょう)で鍛(きた)えられた頑健(がんけん)な肉体(にくたい)の持(も)ち主(ぬし)だ。

He has a hardy body built through farm work.

Adjective type: Na-adjective. Uses な before nouns: 頑健(がんけん)な体格(たいかく).

Nuance: 頑健(がんけん) emphasizes durable, resilient strength - the ability to withstand hardship and resist illness. It suggests a rugged quality built through physical work or inherited constitution.

Common collocations

頑健(がんけん)な体(からだ)/肉体(にくたい) (sturdy body)
頑健(がんけん)な体格(たいかく) (robust build)
頑健(がんけん)な人(ひと) (hardy person)

Related words

丈夫(じょうぶ) (healthy, strong - more common)
屈強(くっきょう) (brawny, sturdy - more muscular)
壮健(そうけん) (healthy, robust - more formal)
虚弱(きょじゃく) (weak, feeble - opposite)

Related Words

Synonym: 丈夫(じょうぶ) (more common)

Synonym: 屈強(くっきょう) (brawny)

Synonym: 壮健(そうけん) (more formal)

Antonym: 虚弱(きょじゃく) (weak, feeble)

general

Added 2026.2.1 10:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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