固 means “harden, solid, firm”

かためる · katameru

Also: set, clot, curdle

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かためる, かたまる, かたまり, かたい

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

Something old (古) shut inside an enclosure (囗): left so long it has set solid. 固める is to harden or firm up, 固定 is fixed in place, and 頭が固い, a hard head, describes someone who will not change their mind.

Used in 固める (katameru, to harden/firm up), 固定 (kotei, fixed), and 頑固 (ganko, stubborn)

More from Hard & Soft

• 豊 abundant
• 巨 giant
• 荒 rough
• 硬 hard
• 柔 soft
• 軟 soft
• 鋭 sharp
• 鈍 dull
• 清 pure

Learn 固 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.