堅

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

土 (earth) — semantic component, suggests solidity and stability;

臤 — phonetic component, supplying the sound (견 / jiān).

Originally, it described something as solid and unyielding like compacted earth.

Semantic development:

- hard earth or material;

- physically solid;

- mentally firm;

- persistent or steadfast.

The meaning expanded from physical hardness to moral firmness.

견고 (堅固) — firm; solid

견실 (堅實) — solid; reliable

견지 (堅持) — to persist firmly

중견 (中堅) — core; backbone

堅 emphasizes solidity and stability rather than mere strength. It frequently used metaphorically for determination.

Related characters:

固 — firm; fixed

強 — strong

硬 — hard