きついkitsui

1. i-adjectivetough; hard; severe; demanding; harsh
   フーッ、この坂道さかみちはきついよ。でも帰かえりは楽らくだよね。↗

   Whew! This is a tough hill. But coming back sure will be a breeze.
2. i-adjectivedetermined; strong-minded; forceful; formidable; fierce
3. i-adjectivestrong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe; intense
   トムは頭あたまにきつい一いち発はつを受うけた。↗

   Tom received a heavy blow on the head.
4. i-adjective(too) tight; constricting; close
   ちょっとウエストがきついね。↗

   The waist is a little small.
5. i-adjectiveextreme; unusually strong

• Synonym厳しいきびしいNeutralFor strictness, severity or harsh conditions, as in 「厳しい先生」 or 「寒さが厳しい」; common in speech and writing. About tough standards and conditions, not tight clothes.
• SynonymハードNeutralLoan word for tough, demanding work or training, as in 「ハードな練習」; also means hardware. Does not describe tight clothing.
• SynonymしんどいCasualColloquial, Kansai-flavored word for feeling tired or finding something a strain, as in 「この坂はしんどい」; leans toward physical exhaustion.
• SynonymタイトNeutralLoan word for tight-fitting clothes or a packed schedule, as in 「タイトなスケジュール」.
• Synonym苦しいくるしいNeutralFor painful distress or being hard-pressed financially, as in 「息が苦しい」 or 「生活が苦しい」; the emphasis is on suffering.
• Related大変たいへんNeutralFor something tremendous or a real struggle, as in 「大変な仕事」; carries an exclamatory tone and a wider range than 「きつい」.
• Related厳格げんかくWrittenStrict and unrelenting, as in 「厳格な規則」; a written-style word, used mostly of rules and discipline.
• RelatedヘビーCasualColloquial loan word for something heavy or weighing on you, as in 「ヘビーな話」; often hyperbolic, and never about tightness.
• Related手厳しいてきびしいNeutralFor harsh, unsparing criticism or treatment, as in 「手厳しい批判」; mostly used in evaluations.
• Antonym甘いあまいNeutralWhen it means lax, it refers to soft discipline or low demands, as in 「子供に甘い」 — the opposite of strict 「きつい」.
• AntonymぬるいNeutralRead 「ぬるい」; literally lukewarm, by extension lenient or not thorough, as in 「対応がぬるい」 — opposite of stern 「きつい」.
• Antonym緩いゆるいNeutral「緩い」 covers the same ground as 「ぬるい」: lax demands or discipline, not strict enough — opposite of harsh 「きつい」; for physical looseness it is read 「ゆるい」.
• AntonymユルイCasualColloquial opposite of 「きつい」: loose, lax or not strict, covering both physical looseness and leniency.

「きつい」 works for tightness, strenuous effort and harshness. Say 「厳しい」 for strictness, 「ハード」 for heavy workloads, 「しんどい」 for feeling worn out, 「タイト」 for tight clothes; the opposites are 「ゆるい」 and 「甘い」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 締め付しめつける力ちからが強つよい。
2. 程度ていどや苦痛くつうが強つよい。厳きびしい。酷ひどい。
3. 言葉ことば、態度たいど、気性きしょう、顔かおつきなどが相手あいてを拒こばむ様子ようすだ。
4. ゆとりがない。狭せまい。
5. 動うごきが速はやい。
6. 通とおるのが難むずかしい。