丈夫

じょうぶ

strong, solid, durable

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"丈夫" (じょうぶ) primarily means "strong," "durable," or "healthy." It is often used to describe physical strength or robustness of objects and people. For example, shoes, furniture, or a person's health can be described as 丈夫.

Common Collocations

  • 丈夫な靴 (じょうぶなくつ): sturdy shoes, emphasizing durability
  • 丈夫な体 (じょうぶなからだ): a healthy body, referring to physical health
  • 丈夫に作る (じょうぶにつくる): to make something sturdy, focusing on construction quality

Register and Nuance

This word is neutral and common in everyday conversation. It is polite and appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. When used for people, it implies good health or physical resilience.

Common Confusions

Learners sometimes confuse 丈夫 with 丈夫 (meaning "husband"), which is a different word with the same kanji but different reading (おっと). Pay attention to the reading and context to avoid confusion.

Example Sentences

このくつはじょうぶでながもちします。

These shoes are strong and last a long time.

かれはとてもしゅうぶだから、かぜをひきにくいです。

He is very healthy, so he rarely catches a cold.

このつくえはじょうぶにつくられているので、おもいものをおいてもだいじょうぶです。

This desk is made sturdy, so it’s okay to put heavy things on it.