强大

• Pinyin: qiáng dà
• Hanzi breakdown: 强 = 弓 (bow) + component suggesting tension; 大 = pictograph of a person with arms spread wide, meaning big

Meaning

Powerful; mighty; formidable. Describes great strength or power on a large scale.

Used for nations, organizations, forces, and abstract things that possess impressive power or influence. Stronger and more formal than 强 alone. Common in news, political speech, and descriptions of countries, armies, economies, and technology. Not typically used for individual people's personal strength.

Examples

1. 中国正在变得越来越强大。 China is becoming more and more powerful.
2. 科技的力量是非常强大的。 The power of technology is truly formidable.
3. 只有团结起来，我们才能变得强大。 Only by uniting can we become powerful.

Usage Guide

Context: nations, technology, organizations

Tone: admiring

Do Say

• 这家公司的技术实力非常强大。(This company's technical capability is very formidable.)
• 我们要建设一个强大的国家。(We must build a powerful nation.)

Don't Say

• 他的身体很强大。(Don't use 强大 for an individual's physical fitness — use 强壮 (strong/robust) instead. 强大 is for large-scale power.)

Origin & History

强 means strong; 大 means big or great. Together they describe something both strong and grand — powerful on a large, impressive scale.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal