“Tough” in Japanese
Short answer
Tough in Japanese is “きつい” (kitsui). Full meaning: tough, hard, severe, demanding, harsh; determined, strong-minded, forceful, formidable, fierce; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol), severe, intense.
Other ways to say “Tough” in Japanese
タフ
tafu tough
手ごわい
tegowai difficult, tough, formidable, redoubtable, stubborn
強か
shitataka tough, stubborn, determined, hard, tenacious; severely, heavily, hard, a great deal, much
しぶとい
shibutoi tenacious, tough, enduring, dogged, headstrong, stubborn, obstinate, unyielding
強靭
kyoujin tough, strong, stiff, tenacious
硬い
katai hard, solid, tough; stiff, tight, wooden, unpolished (e.g. writing); strong, firm (not viscous or easily moved)
苦しい
kurushii painful, difficult, tough, hard; distressing, (psychologically) difficult, stressful, awkward (e.g. position); straitened (circumstances), tight (financial situation), needy, struggling
精悍
seikan virile, tough, masculine, sharp (features, look, etc.), fierce, dauntless
きつ
kitsu tough, hard, severe, demanding, harsh; determined, strong-minded, forceful, formidable, fierce; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol), severe, intense
キツ
kitsu tough, hard, severe, demanding, harsh; determined, strong-minded, forceful, formidable, fierce; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol), severe, intense
キツく
kitsuku tough, hard, severe, demanding, harsh; determined, strong-minded, forceful, formidable, fierce; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol), severe, intense
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