How to Write 强 (jiàng/qiáng/qiǎng) — Meaning “Strong, powerful”

Picture a bow (弓) that is so powerful it can shoot an arrow through a wall, but the wall says "虽" (although) it is thick. This image of a bow overcoming a tough obstacle helps you recall that 强 means "strong."

The left side 弓 has 3 strokes: a horizontal hook, a vertical stroke, and a final horizontal stroke. The right side 虽 has 9 strokes, starting with a small mouth shape (口) on top and 虫 below. Make sure the 弓 is narrow and the right side is slightly wider, keeping the overall character balanced.

强 (jiàng/qiáng, strong) uses the bow radical, while 弱 (ruò, weak) uses two curved bows to show fragility, and 弹 (dàn, bullet; tán, to spring) also uses a bow but with a different right side (单). In meaning, 强 is the opposite of 弱, and 弹 refers to objects or actions related to springing or shooting.

强 appears in common words like 强大 (powerful) and 强烈 (intense) and is often used in sports, politics, and personal descriptions. For example, in Chinese culture, being 强 is admired as a positive trait, but the word 勉强 (reluctant; barely enough) shows a different nuance where someone forces themselves to do something, so context matters.

Common words containing 强 include: 强大 (qiáng dà) — Powerful, formidable; 强烈 (qiáng liè) — Intense, strong; 勉强 (miǎn qiǎng) — reluctant; to force; barely enough.