强劲

• Pinyin: qiáng jìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 强 = 弓 + 虫 (powerful bow — strength and force); 劲 = 工 + 力 (effort + force — vigour and momentum)

Meaning

Powerful, vigorous, and forceful. Describes strong momentum, a powerful wind, a formidable competitor, or robust economic performance.

More dynamic than 强大 (powerful/great) — implies active, ongoing force or momentum rather than static strength. Common in business reporting, weather forecasts, and sports commentary. Often collocates with 势头 (momentum), 增长 (growth), 对手 (opponent), and 风力 (wind force).

Examples

1. 强劲的海风吹得渔船剧烈摇晃，船长当机立断决定立即返港。 Strong sea winds rocked the fishing boat violently, and the captain immediately decided to return to port.
2. 公司在过去两个季度实现了强劲的盈利增长，股价随之大幅攀升。 The company posted strong profit growth over the past two quarters, and the stock price surged accordingly.
3. 这位年轻选手表现出强劲的竞争态势，令赛场上的老将们感到不小的压力。 This young competitor showed strong momentum, putting considerable pressure on the seasoned veterans at the event.

Usage Guide

Context: business, sports, weather

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 受多重利好政策驱动，本地区制造业呈现出强劲的复苏势头，就业岗位数量已恢复至疫情前水平的九成以上。(Driven by multiple favourable policies, the manufacturing sector in the region has shown vigorous signs of recovery, with the number of jobs restored to over ninety percent of pre-pandemic levels.)
• 台风登陆时携带强劲风力，最大阵风达到每小时一百八十公里，沿岸多个城市遭受了不同程度的损失。(The typhoon made landfall with powerful winds, with maximum gusts reaching 180 kilometres per hour, causing varying degrees of damage to several coastal cities.)

Don't Say

• 他是个强劲的人 — 强劲 describes forces, trends, winds, or competitive performances, not a person's character; use 强壮 (physically strong) or 意志坚强 (strong-willed) to describe a person's strength

Origin & History

强 (strong/powerful) + 劲 (vigour/force/momentum)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal