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WORD DETAIL

頑健

がんけん

N1robust · strong

Examples

祖父は年を重ねても頑健で、毎朝畑に出ている。

長年の畑仕事で、父は頑健な体つきをしている。

Included kanji

Study notes

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

  • Structure: 頑健(がんけん) describes a robust, sturdy body or physique.
  • Basic usage: It modifies physique in 頑健な体つき or describes a person's physical robustness.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

  • Health versus a sturdy physique
    • 健康 broadly describes health, whereas 頑健 puts more emphasis on bodily strength and sturdiness.
  • A shared character, a different focus
    • 頑固 focuses on being unwilling to change one's views or attitude. The shared character 頑 does not make physical robustness and temperament the same concept.

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