jiānqiáng: 坚强 - Strong, Firm, Resilient

• Keywords: jianqiang, jiānqiáng, 坚强, Chinese for strong, Chinese for resilient, emotional strength, inner strength, perseverance in Chinese, learn Chinese, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4, Chinese culture
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 坚强 (jiānqiáng), a fundamental Chinese word for being strong and resilient. This page explores its deeper cultural meaning beyond simple physical strength, focusing on the highly-valued Chinese virtue of inner fortitude, emotional endurance, and the quiet perseverance needed to overcome adversity. Discover how to use it in conversation, understand its cultural significance, and avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiānqiáng
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To be strong, firm, or steadfast, especially in the face of adversity or emotional hardship.
• In a Nutshell: 坚强 (jiānqiáng) isn't about being a tough guy or having big muscles. It's about inner, emotional strength. Think of it as the resilience to bend without breaking. When someone tells you to be `坚强`, they're acknowledging your pain but encouraging you to find the mental and emotional fortitude to endure and carry on. It's an admired quality that implies maturity, character, and a deep well of inner resolve.

• 坚 (jiān): This character means “firm,” “solid,” or “unyielding.” The radical on the bottom is 土 (tǔ), meaning “earth” or “soil,” giving the sense of something as solid and dependable as the ground beneath your feet.
• 强 (qiáng): This character means “strong,” “powerful,” or “mighty.” It contains the character for a bow, 弓 (gōng), evoking an image of strength and capability.
• Together, 坚 (jiān) + 强 (qiáng) create a powerful compound word. It's not just “strong” but “firmly strong.” This combination emphasizes a strength that is both solid and unshakeable, perfectly capturing the idea of resilience and inner fortitude.

In Chinese culture, 坚强 (jiānqiáng) is more than a personality trait; it's a profound virtue. It is closely linked to the concepts of 吃苦 (chī kǔ), “eating bitterness,” and 忍 (rěn), “endurance” or “forbearance.” The ability to endure hardship without complaint is traditionally seen as a sign of a respectable and mature character. To a Westerner, “being strong” can sometimes imply suppressing emotions or projecting an image of invulnerability. 坚强 (jiānqiáng), however, is different. It's less about hiding your feelings and more about continuing to function and fulfill your responsibilities despite them. It's a quiet, internal resilience often demonstrated for the good of the family or collective. A person who is `坚强` may still feel deep sadness or pain, but they don't let it defeat them or become a burden to others. They persevere, embodying a strength that is both deeply personal and socially valued.

坚强 (jiānqiáng) is a common and versatile adjective used in a variety of situations, almost always with a positive and encouraging connotation.

• Comforting and Encouraging: It's frequently used to comfort someone going through a tough time, like a breakup, illness, or failure. Saying “你要坚强 (Nǐ yào jiānqiáng)” is a very common way to say “You need to be strong.”
• Describing Character: You can use it to describe a person you admire for their resilience. “My mother is a very `坚强` woman” is a high compliment.
• Formal and Informal: It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. You could hear it between close friends or read it in a formal tribute to a public figure.

• Example 1:
  • 面对困难，我们必须坚强。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì kùnnan, wǒmen bìxū jiānqiáng.
  • English: In the face of difficulties, we must be strong.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using `坚强` to describe the resolve needed to overcome challenges. This could be said by a team leader, a parent, or in a motivational speech.
• Example 2:
  • 她是一个非常坚强的女人，一个人带大了三个孩子。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge fēicháng jiānqiáng de nǚrén, yí ge rén dài dà le sān ge háizi.
  • English: She is a very strong woman; she raised three children all by herself.
  • Analysis: Here, `坚强` is used to describe someone's character, highlighting their resilience and ability to handle immense responsibility over a long period.
• Example 3:
  • 分手后，你需要时间恢复，但更要坚强。
  • Pinyin: Fēnshǒu hòu, nǐ xūyào shíjiān huīfù, dàn gèng yào jiānqiáng.
  • English: After the breakup, you need time to recover, but more importantly, you need to be strong.
  • Analysis: This is a very common way to use `坚强` to comfort a friend. It acknowledges their pain while encouraging them to move forward.
• Example 4:
  • 爷爷虽然病得很重，但他的意志很坚强。
  • Pinyin: Yéye suīrán bìng de hěn zhòng, dàn tā de yìzhì hěn jiānqiáng.
  • English: Although Grandpa is very sick, his will is very strong.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows that `坚强` can be applied to abstract concepts like “will” (意志, yìzhì), not just a person's overall character.
• Example 5:
  • 那个小男孩摔倒了也没哭，真坚强！
  • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎo nánhái shuāidǎo le yě méi kū, zhēn jiānqiáng!
  • English: That little boy fell down and didn't even cry, he's so tough/strong!
  • Analysis: In this context, `坚强` means “tough” and is used to praise a child for not being overly emotional about a minor injury.
• Example 6:
  • 只有内心坚强的人才能真正成功。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu nèixīn jiānqiáng de rén cáinéng zhēnzhèng chénggōng.
  • English: Only people who are inwardly strong can truly succeed.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that `坚强` is an internal quality (内心, nèixīn). It's a key ingredient for long-term success.
• Example 7:
  • 灾难过后，这个民族表现出了坚强不屈的精神。
  • Pinyin: Zāinàn guòhòu, zhège mínzú biǎoxiàn chūle jiānqiáng bùqū de jīngshén.
  • English: After the disaster, this nation showed an indomitable (strong and unyielding) spirit.
  • Analysis: `坚强` can be used on a larger scale to describe the collective spirit of a people or a nation. `坚强不屈 (jiānqiáng bùqū)` is a common four-character idiom meaning “unyielding.”
• Example 8:
  • 他外表看起来很温柔，其实性格非常坚强。
  • Pinyin: Tā wàibiǎo kàn qǐlái hěn wēnróu, qíshí xìnggé fēicháng jiānqiáng.
  • English: He looks very gentle on the outside, but actually, his character is very strong.
  • Analysis: This highlights the difference between appearance and inner character. `坚强` is about one's core personality (性格, xìnggé), not their outward demeanor.
• Example 9:
  • 我希望你能坚强地活下去。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng jiānqiáng de huó xiàqù.
  • English: I hope you can live on strongly.
  • Analysis: This is a powerful and heartfelt sentence, often used in dramatic situations (e.g., a final goodbye). The `地 (de)` particle turns the adjective `坚强` into an adverb describing how one should “live on.”
• Example 10:
  • 在逆境中保持坚强是一种智慧。
  • Pinyin: Zài nìjìng zhōng bǎochí jiānqiáng shì yì zhǒng zhìhuì.
  • English: To remain strong in adversity is a type of wisdom.
  • Analysis: This sentence elevates `坚强` from a simple trait to a form of wisdom (智慧, zhìhuì), framing it as a conscious and intelligent choice.

A frequent mistake for learners is confusing 坚强 (jiānqiáng) with words for physical strength or power.

• Don't use `坚强` for physical objects. You cannot say a table is `坚强`. For a sturdy table, you would use 结实 (jiēshi) or 坚固 (jiāngù).
  • Incorrect: `这个桌子很坚强。` (Zhège zhuōzi hěn jiānqiáng.)
  • Correct: `这个桌子很结实。` (Zhège zhuōzi hěn jiēshi.)
• Differentiate from `强大 (qiángdà)`.
  • 坚强 (jiānqiáng) is for internal, personal resilience. It describes a person's character, will, or spirit. (e.g., A strong person, a strong will).
  • 强大 (qiángdà) is for external power or might. It describes a country, an army, a company, or a powerful force. (e.g., A powerful nation, a strong competitor).
  • Incorrect: `他是一个很强大的男人。` (Tā shì yí ge hěn qiángdà de nánrén.) - This sounds strange, as if he is a superpower. You mean he is resilient.
  • Correct: `他是一个很坚强的男人。` (Tā shì yí ge hěn jiānqiáng de nánrén.) - This means he is a resilient/emotionally strong man.

• 坚固 (jiāngù) - Solid, firm, sturdy. Used to describe buildings, structures, and foundations. Antonym of `坚强`'s domain (objects vs. people).
• 结实 (jiēshi) - Sturdy, solid, durable. Used for objects (like furniture) and also for a person's physical build (fit, solid).
• 强大 (qiángdà) - Powerful, mighty. Used for abstract entities like countries, economies, and armies. Contrasted with the personal nature of `坚强`.
• 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) - Brave, courageous. This focuses on the act of facing fear, while `坚强` focuses on enduring hardship over time. One can be `勇敢` in a moment, but being `坚强` implies long-term resilience.
• 毅力 (yìlì) - Willpower, perseverance. This is the noun for the quality that allows a person to be `坚强`. Having `毅力` is a key component of being `坚强`.
• 坚韧 (jiānrèn) - Tenacious, tough and resilient. A very close synonym to `坚强`, often emphasizing the ability to withstand pressure without breaking, like bamboo.
• 忍 (rěn) - To endure, tolerate, forbear. This verb is the action and philosophy behind being `坚强`. It's the capacity to bear difficulties patiently.