How to say "trustworthy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 頼もしいたのもしいi-adjectiveThe natural choice for a person who is trustworthy in the sense of dependable and reassuring; it conveys the feeling that someone will come through when needed.彼は頼もしい男だ。↗He is a man to be depended on.
- 着実ちゃくじつna-adjective, nounCovers 'trustworthy' only in the sense of solid and reliable; it describes steady, step-by-step progress or a careful approach, so it is not the word for a person you can trust with something.
- 堅実けんじつna-adjectiveReally means steady, sound, and safe rather than trustworthy; it fits careful, low-risk ways of doing things, especially in business, and a person only in the sense of solid and prudent.
- 手堅いてがたいi-adjectiveSeldom the word you want for a trustworthy person; it describes a way of doing things that is safe, sure, and unlikely to fail, so 'solid' or 'secure' is usually closer.
- 確かたしかna-adjectiveUse for 'trustworthy' about things rather than people: information, evidence, memory, or skill that is reliable and can be counted on as accurate or certain.
Use 「頼もしい」 for a person you can depend on, 「確か」 for information or skill you can rely on, and 着実, 堅実, 「手堅い」 for steady, safe, solid approaches rather than personal trustworthiness.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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