硬 (yìng) - Hard & rigid

硬Tone 4

yìng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

樱咏

硬 · yìng

Hard;

rigid;

stiff;

strong;

firm;

resolute;

unyielding;

of high quality;

able to endure;

tough.

Hardrigidstiff

Usage highlights

HardHardwareHard workHard currencyHard skillsHard seat

Synonyms

  • 坚— firm, hard, solid
  • 固— solid, firm
  • 刚— hard, rigid, strong

Antonyms

  • 软— soft, flexible
  • 柔— soft, gentle
  • 弱— weak, feeble

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This table is very hard (硬的桌子).
  • He has a strong personality (性格很硬).
  • Hard currency (硬通货).
  • Hard skills (硬技能).
  • Hard seat on a train (硬座).

Collocations

  • Hard(硬)
  • Hardware(硬件)
  • Hard work(硬功夫)
  • Hard currency(硬通货)
  • Hard skills(硬技能)
  • Hard seat(硬座)

Idioms

  • Hard as iron and stone(铁硬石硬)
  • Hard-boned spirit(硬骨头精神)
  • Hard and unyielding(硬气不服)
  • Dead stubborn(死硬)
  • Hard power(硬实力)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with strength, resilience, and unyielding character in Chinese culture.
  • Often used to describe someone with strong principles who won't compromise.
  • In modern context, used in technology terms like 'hardware' (硬件) vs 'software' (软件).

FAQ