Translation guide
The English verb 'stiffen' covers several distinct meanings: becoming physically rigid, making something rigid, becoming tense from emotion, strengthening a rule or penalty, and thickening a liquid. Japanese uses different verbs for each.
Describing a body part, material, or object that becomes hard, rigid, or loses flexibility.
General term for becoming hard or stiff. Used for muscles, materials, food, etc.
寒さで指が硬くなった。
My fingers stiffened from the cold.
This bread stiffens over time.
Specifically for muscles or body parts becoming stiff, often from tension, cold, or fear. Implies a loss of suppleness.
緊張で顔がこわばった。
My face stiffened from nervousness.
To solidify or harden, often for liquids or soft substances. Can also describe a person freezing up.
ゼラチンが冷えて固まった。
The gelatin cooled and stiffened.
Causing a material, object, or body part to become rigid or hard.
Transitive form: to make something hard or stiff.
洗濯糊でシャツを硬くする。
Stiffen the shirt with laundry starch.
To solidify or harden something, often by cooling or adding an agent.
寒天でゼリーを固める。
Stiffen the jelly with agar.
Body or posture becoming rigid due to fear, anger, surprise, or determination.
Describes facial expression or body stiffening from tension or fear.
彼女の表情が恐怖でこわばった。
Her expression stiffened with fear.
Kanji form of こわばる, same meaning. Often used in writing.
To brace oneself, stiffen in preparation for something. Implies a defensive posture.
To make a rule, law, penalty, or someone's determination stronger or stricter.
General term for strengthening or tightening something like regulations, security, or resolve.
政府は規制を強化した。
The government stiffened regulations.
彼は決意を強化した。
He stiffened his resolve.
To make something stricter or harsher. Common for rules or penalties.
罰則を厳しくする。
Stiffen the penalties.
To make a liquid or semi-liquid substance thicker or more viscous, often in cooking.
To add thickness or viscosity, common in cooking for sauces or soups.
片栗粉でスープにとろみをつける。
Stiffen the soup with potato starch.
To solidify or set a liquid, often by cooling or adding a gelling agent.
ゼラチンでムースを固める。
Stiffen the mousse with gelatin.
Do not use a single Japanese verb for all meanings of 'stiffen'. For example, 硬くなる only works for physical stiffening, not for strengthening rules. Always match the verb to the specific meaning.
全身が強張るのを感じた。
I felt my whole body stiffen.
彼は攻撃に備えて身構えた。
He stiffened in anticipation of the attack.