坚强

• Pinyin: jiān qiáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 坚 = 又 (hand) + 土 (earth) — holding firm to the ground; 强 = 弓 (bow) + 虫 (phonetic) — powerful and resilient

Meaning

Strong; firm; unyielding; resilient. Describes a person who remains strong and unbroken in the face of hardship, pain, or adversity.

Primarily used to describe inner strength of character — emotional and psychological resilience rather than physical strength. Common collocations: 意志坚强 (strong-willed), 坚强的人 (a resilient person), 要坚强 (be strong). It has a positive, admirable connotation and is often used in encouraging or comforting speech.

Examples

1. 她经历了很多困难，但一直很坚强。 She has been through many difficulties but has always remained strong.
2. 要坚强，不要因为一次失败就放弃。 Be resilient — don't give up just because of one failure.
3. 他用坚强的意志克服了病痛。 He used his strong willpower to overcome illness and pain.

Usage Guide

Context: encouragement, character, everyday, hardship

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 你要坚强，一切都会好起来的。(Be strong — everything will get better.)
• 她是一个非常坚强的女性。(She is a very resilient woman.)

Don't Say

• 这块石头很坚强。(Don't use 坚强 for physical objects — it describes human resilience and inner strength. For hard materials, use 坚硬 (hard) or 坚固 (solid/sturdy).)

Origin & History

Compound of 坚 (firm, solid, hard) and 强 (strong, powerful). Together they describe a person who is both hard and strong — unyielding under pressure, especially emotional or mental pressure.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal