義理堅い
ぎりがたい
i-adjective
loyal, dutiful, faithful to obligations
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 義理堅い | 義理堅くない |
| Past | 義理堅かった | 義理堅くなかった |
| て form | 義理堅くて | 義理堅くなくて |
| Adverbial | 義理堅く | — |
| Conditional ば | 義理堅ければ | 義理堅くなければ |
| Conditional たら | 義理堅かったら | 義理堅くなかったら |
1.
loyal, dutiful, faithful to obligations
Describes someone who takes social obligations, debts of gratitude, and interpersonal duties seriously and always reciprocates.
Composed of 義理 (social obligation, duty) + 堅い (firm, strict). Describes someone who reliably fulfills social obligations and reciprocates kindness. This is generally a positive trait in Japanese culture.
Common collocations
- 義理堅い人 — a dutiful person
- 義理堅い性格 — a dutiful personality
- 義理堅く付き合う — to faithfully maintain a relationship
Cultural note
In Japanese culture, 義理 (social obligation) is a fundamental concept governing interpersonal relationships. Being 義理堅い is considered admirable — it means one does not forget debts of gratitude and always reciprocates appropriately, whether through return gifts, favors, or maintaining relationships.