Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
強 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
qiángstrong, powerful, energeticzg, 11 strokes, radical 弓, rank #42630, Very Hard
qiáng(qiang2) T2
  1. 1strong, powerful, energetic
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
qiáng(qiang2)

The character 强 (qiáng) means strong or powerful, often used to describe physical strength, effectiveness, or intensity. It can also imply a sense of persuasion or compelling force in various contexts, such as 强烈 (qiángliè), meaning intense or strong in feeling.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#42630DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of strength is often associated with resilience and the ability to overcome difficulties, reflecting societal values around perseverance and determination, particularly in traditional stories and proverbs.

Memory Tip

Imagine a superhero (强) lifting a heavy weight effortlessly. The character has a strong visual resemblance to a person flexing their muscles, embodying strength and energy while the 'qiáng' sounds like 'strong' in English.

Meanings of 強

qiáng(qiang2)
1strong, powerful, energetic
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 強

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 強

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 強

Quick Contrast

强 (qiáng) vs 力 (lì) — use 强 for strength or power in a broader sense, while 力 specifically denotes physical force or energy.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a superhero (强) lifting a heavy weight effortlessly. The character has a strong visual resemblance to a person flexing their muscles, embodying strength and energy while the 'qiáng' sounds like 'strong' in English.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 强 (qiáng) as it is the second tone and can easily be confused with similar-sounding words. It is often used in combination with other characters, such as 强大 (qiángdà) meaning powerful or mighty, which may be a common collocation.

HSK Study Tips

Although not in the HSK levels, 强 is a useful word to know as it relates to strength and capability. Students should focus on recognizing its use in various phrases and idiomatic expressions to enhance their vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of strength is often associated with resilience and the ability to overcome difficulties, reflecting societal values around perseverance and determination, particularly in traditional stories and proverbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use the character with the wrong tone, saying 'qiang' instead of 'qiáng'. Additionally, some may confuse it with the character 讲 (jiǎng), which means to speak or discuss. Always ensure you're using the correct tone and context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 強

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 強

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 強. Origin unclear.

Memory Hint

bow

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 強?

Decomposition of 強

IDS Structure⿰弓⿱厶虫
Full Character
=
Gong1
left
mou3
top
chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 強?

Write 強

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 強

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of strength is often associated with resilience and the ability to overcome difficulties, reflecting societal values around perseverance and determination, particularly in traditional stories and proverbs.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of strength in Chinese culture often emphasizes inner strength and community support, while in Western cultures, it can lean more towards individualism and physical prowess.

Word Family of 強

Words Containing This Character20
jiàngstrong
加强jiāqiángto reinforce加強
强大qiángdàlarge強大
强烈qiánglièintense強烈
坚强jiānqiángstaunch堅強
强调qiángdiàoto stress強調
增强zēngqiángto increase增強
强奸to rape強姦
强迫qiǎngpòto compel強迫
强壮qiángzhuàngstrong強壯
强化qiánghuàto strengthen強化
强制qiángzhìto enforce強制
强度qiángdùstrength強度
勉强miǎnqiǎngreluctant勉強
强劲qiángjìngstrong強勁
强硬qiángyìngtough強硬
强行qiángxíngto do sth by force強行
强盗qiángdàobandit強盜
强力powerful強力
强悍valiant強悍
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 强 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 強

You can use 强 in a sentence like '他的力量很强' (tā de lìliàng hěn qiáng), meaning 'His strength is very strong.'