When combined, 强项 (qiángxiàng) literally means a “strong item” or “strong category.” This perfectly captures the idea of a specific skill or subject that stands out as a strength from your overall list of abilities.
In Chinese culture, there is a delicate balance between demonstrating competence and maintaining humility (谦虚 - qiānxū). The term 强项 is a perfect tool for navigating this. Unlike the Western, particularly American, tendency to overtly “sell yourself” and list strengths with bold confidence, using 强项 is often more of a factual statement. It's a way to clearly communicate your value in a professional or academic setting without being perceived as arrogant. For example, in a job interview, stating “我的强项是数据分析” (My strong point is data analysis) is seen as informative and confident. However, excessively listing many 强项 or boasting about them would be considered poor form. The key is to state your 强项 as a matter-of-fact skill you can contribute, rather than an inherent quality that makes you superior to others. It's about what you can *do*, not just who you *are*.
强项 is a high-frequency word used in various modern contexts.
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 强项 (qiángxiàng) with 优点 (yōudiǎn).
Common Mistake Example: