手堅い|てがたいtegatai[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivesound; sure; safe; secure; trustworthy; reliable; solid
2. i-adjectivesteady; firm

• Synonym堅実けんじつNeutralDescribes solid, steady conduct or management, as in 「堅実な経営」. Close to 「手堅い」, which is the more colloquial of the two.
• Synonym着実ちゃくじつNeutralSuggests steady, step-by-step progress, as in 「着実に成果を上げる」; the emphasis is on advancing steadily rather than on a safe approach.
• Synonym確実かくじつNeutralMeans certain and sure to be correct, as in 「確実な情報」; it stresses a certain outcome, while 「手堅い」 stresses a safe, cautious approach.
• Synonym無難ぶなんNeutralMeans safe and unobjectionable, often with a nuance of being unremarkable; 「手堅い」 is positive, praising steady reliability.
• Related堅調けんちょうWrittenA written/formal stock-market term for firm, bullish prices, also used of strong sales; 「手堅い」 can also describe a steady market.
• Related律儀りちぎNeutralDescribes a person who is honest, dutiful and true to obligations, as in 「律儀な人」; it judges character, while 「手堅い」 judges how things are done.
• Related真面目まじめNeutralMeans serious, earnest and honest; it describes personality, while 「手堅い」 describes a safe, steady way of doing things.
• RelatedしっかりCasualA colloquial adverb meaning firmly and reliably, with a very wide range of uses and a strong spoken flavor; 「手堅い」 describes a safe approach or a steady market.
• Related実直じっちょくWrittenA written/formal word for honest, steady character; it describes a person's nature, while 「手堅い」 describes how one works or runs a business.
• Related危なげないあぶなげないNeutralMeans showing no sign of trouble, steady and assured, as in 「危なげない勝利」「危なげない運転」; it stresses that nothing looks shaky along the way.
• Related頼もしいたのもしいNeutralMeans dependable and reassuring, mostly of people; it stresses being someone you can rely on, while 「手堅い」 stresses a cautious approach.
• Related堅気かたぎNeutralRefers to people in honest, respectable occupations, as opposed to gangsters, as in 「堅気になる」; it concerns status, not how things are done.
• Related安定したあんていしたNeutralDescribes something stable and unchanging; it stresses a calm, steady state, while 「手堅い」 stresses a careful way of doing things that avoids taking chances.
• Related信頼のおけるしんらいのおけるNeutralMeans trustworthy and dependable, as in 「信頼のおける情報源」; the focus is on credibility, not on a cautious method.
• Related物堅いものがたいWrittenA written/formal term for an honest, upright, principled character; it describes personal character and is used less often.
• Antonym軽率けいそつNeutralAntonym: rash and thoughtless, acting without due consideration — the opposite of the cautious, steady 「手堅い」.
• Antonym危ういあやういNeutralAntonym: dangerous or precarious, on the brink of collapse — the opposite of the safe, reliable 「手堅い」.
• Antonym不安定ふあんていNeutralAntonym: unstable and prone to fluctuation — the opposite of the steady 「手堅い」.

Use 「手堅い」 for a sound, cautious approach that avoids taking chances, as in 「手堅い商売」, or for a steady market. For solid management say 「堅実」, for steady progress 「着実」, for certain results 「確実」. 律儀, 実直, 真面目 and 物堅い describe character; 頼もしい and 信頼のおける stress trustworthiness; 堅気 is about status; 無難 means safe but unremarkable; 堅調 is a formal market term; 確り is a colloquial adverb; 安定した describes a stable state. Opposites: 軽率, 危うい, 不安定.

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

1. 危あぶなげない。確実かくじつだ。
2. 相場そうばが安定あんていしていて下さがる気配けはいがない。