堅気|かたぎkatagi[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounhonest; respectable; decent
2. no-adjectiverespectable occupation (i.e. not yakuza, prostitute, etc.)
3. nounperson in a respectable occupation

• Synonym律儀りちぎNeutralLoyal and dutiful, stressing scrupulous keeping of promises and obligations; not specifically about holding a respectable occupation.
• Synonym真面目まじめNeutralEarnest and honest — the most common everyday word, stressing a serious attitude; different from 「堅気」's sense of an honest living.
• Synonym正直しょうじきNeutralHonest, stressing never telling lies; says nothing about whether one's occupation is respectable.
• Synonym誠実せいじつWrittenSincere and honest; written/formal prose; stresses genuine-heartedness toward others, unrelated to what work one does.
• Synonym堅実けんじつWrittenSteady and reliable; written/formal prose; stresses playing it safe in how things are done, often describing management policy.
• Synonym良心的りょうしんてきNeutralConscientious and honest; also fair, as of prices; works for a person's attitude, conduct, or a shop's dealings.
• Synonym実直じっちょくWrittenHonest and dutiful; written/formal prose; stresses sincerity and steadiness as traits of a person's character.
• Synonym真正直ましょうじきNeutralUtterly honest, with an emphatic tone; stresses hiding nothing; rare in speech.
• Synonym真率しんそつWrittenSincere and frank; written/formal prose and rare; stresses being open and unpretentious.
• Synonym廉直れんちょくWrittenClean and upright; written/formal prose and rare; describes moral character, stressing a pure heart.
• Related着実ちゃくじつNeutralSteady and solid, stressing reliable progress step by step; does not refer to the respectability of one's occupation.
• Related手堅いてがたいNeutralSafe and sure, stressing that nothing will go wrong; colloquial, as in 「手堅い商売」.
• Related清廉せいれんWrittenClean-handed; written/formal prose; stresses purity of heart and freedom from selfish greed, said of officials and anyone.
• Related廉潔れんけつWrittenIncorruptible; written/formal prose and rare; stresses conduct that is upright and utterly unstained.
• AntonymヤクザNeutralThe gangster underworld; the exact opposite of 「堅気」 living an honest, straight life.
• Antonym不良ふりょうNeutralDelinquents and hoodlums of bad character; the opposite of 「堅気」.
• Antonym８９３やくざNeutralYakuza written with a number pun (8-9-3 = ya-ku-za); the opposite of 「堅気」's honest line of work.

Use 「堅気」 for someone who lives an honest life and works a respectable job, often contrasted with the underworld, as in 「堅気になる」. For being earnest and honest as a person, choose 「真面目」 or 「律儀」; for steady, dependable conduct, choose 「堅実」.

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

1. 布帛ふはく・紙かみに摺すって模様もようを染そめつけるのに用もちいる、形かたちを彫り込ほりこんだ板いた。
2. 「版木はんぎ」の異称いしょう。
3. その出身しゅっしん・身分みぶん・境遇きょうぐうに応おうじて生しょうじた特有とくゆうの気分きぶん。その出身しゅっしんなどに相応そうおうした気質きしつ。
4. 櫟くぬぎ、楢なら、樫かしなど、主ぬしとしてブナノキ科かに属ぞくする硬かたい木材もくざいの総称そうしょう。
5. 「赤樫あかがし」の異称いしょう。
6. 「櫟くぬぎ」の異称いしょう。
7. （方言ほうげん、広島ひろしま）マテバシイ。
8. 性格せいかくがまじめでしっかりしていること。
9. 堅実けんじつな職業しょくぎょう、またはそういった職業しょくぎょうに就ついている人ひと。犯罪はんざい的てき生業せいぎょうややくざ、娼妓しょうぎ、芸者げいしゃ、水商売みずしょうばいなどの対たい。