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March 24, 2026
顽强(頑強)wánqiáng(wan2qiang2)
顽强 (wánqiáng) describes a quality of being tenacious or resilient, often in the face of adversity. It is commonly used to refer to individuals or groups that exhibit determination and strength, making it applicable in both personal and professional contexts, such as in sports or overcoming challenges.
Strokes22Frequency#12257DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of perseverance is deeply valued in Chinese culture, often illustrated through historical figures or stories of struggle, such as the legendary tales of the 'Three Heroes' who exemplify tenacity in their endeavors.
Memory Tip
Imagine a stubborn rock (顽) refusing to budge despite a fierce storm (强). The rock stands strong, symbolizing tenacity and resilience. The 'wan' part sounds like 'wandering' which can remind you of someone wandering through challenges but staying strong, while 'qiang' relates to strength, reinforcing the idea of being hard to defeat.
Meanings of 顽强
wánqiáng(wan2qiang2)
1tenacious
2hard to defeat
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About 顽强
顽强Simplified
頑強Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#12257Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 顽强
Podcast: 顽强
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AI Study Notes for 顽强
Quick Contrast
顽强 (wánqiáng) vs 坚韧 (jiānrèn) — use 顽强 when emphasizing tenacity in overcoming challenges, while 坚韧 focuses more on toughness and endurance.
Usage Notes
This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's especially common in motivational speeches or literature. A common mistake is to confuse it with words like '坚强' (jiānqiáng) which also means strong but lacks the nuance of stubbornness or persistence inherent in '顽强'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, '顽强' connects with other advanced vocabulary that describes personal attributes and qualities. Students should focus on understanding its nuanced usage in various contexts, especially in discussions about perseverance and determination.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '顽强' with '顽固' (wángù), which means stubborn in a negative sense. For example, saying '他是个顽固的人' (He is a tenacious person) is incorrect; the correct usage would be '他是个顽强的人' to convey a positive sense of determination.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 顽强
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顽强 (wánqiáng) describes a quality of being tenacious or resilient, often in the face of adversity. It is commonly used to refer to individuals or groups that exhibit determination and strength, making it applicable in both personal and professional contexts, such as in sports or overcoming challenges.
When to use 顽强
This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's especially common in motivational speeches or literature. A common mistake is to confuse it with words like '坚强' (jiānqiáng) which also means strong but lacks the nuance of stubbornness or persistence inherent in '顽强'.
顽强 or something close to it
顽强 (wánqiáng) vs 坚韧 (jiānrèn) — use 顽强 when emphasizing tenacity in overcoming challenges, while 坚韧 focuses more on toughness and endurance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '顽强' with '顽固' (wángù), which means stubborn in a negative sense. For example, saying '他是个顽固的人' (He is a tenacious person) is incorrect; the correct usage would be '他是个顽强的人' to convey a positive sense of determination.
Write 顽强
顽
强
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Grammar Patterns of 顽强
顽强 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
