How to say "rugged" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 険しいけわしいi-adjectiveCovers 'rugged' of landscape: steep, precipitous terrain that is rough and hard to climb or cross. Think of rugged mountains, cliffs, or coastline; it stresses the forbidding, difficult nature of the ground.
- 強いつよいi-adjectiveCovers 'rugged' only as physically strong or tough — a brawny, robust person or constitution. Its core meaning is simply 'strong', so it is seldom the word you want for 'rugged' itself.
Use 「険しい」 for rugged terrain — steep, rough country that is hard to climb or cross — and 「強い」 when 'rugged' means physically strong or tough, though its core meaning is simply 'strong'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
