| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| 中堅 | ちゅうけん | main body (of troops); center field, centre field, center fielder, centre fielder, nucleus, backbone, mainstay |
| 堅持 | けんじ | holding on to, sticking to |
| 堅調 | けんちょう | bullish, firm (market) |
| 堅実 | けんじつ | steady, sound, reliable, solid |
| 手堅い | てがたい | steady, firm, solid, secure |
| 堅い | かたい | hard, solid, tough; stiff, tight, wooden, unpolished (e.g. writing); strong, firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe, steady, honest, steadfast; obstinate, stubborn; bookish, formal, stuffy |
| 堅固 | けんご | solid, strong, firm |
| 堅守 | けんしゅ | strong defense, strong defence |
| 堅気 | かたぎ | honest, respectable |
| 底堅い | そこがたい | stable (market) after having bottomed out |