堅い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 堅い, read かたい, means that an object is sturdy or an outcome is regarded as certain.
• Basic usage: It describes wood that does not warp with long use or a situation in which victory appears assured.
  • この箱は堅い木で作られ、長く使っても歪まない。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An expectation and a completed result
  • 勝利は堅い expresses strong confidence in victory; it does not report that the match has already ended in a win.