强行

• Pinyin: qiáng xíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 强 = 弓 + 虫 (powerful bow — force); 行 = 彳 + 亍 (two steps — to proceed/act)

Meaning

To do something by force or in the face of opposition; forcibly, compulsorily. Used as an adverb modifying an action carried out despite resistance.

Always implies overcoming or ignoring resistance, objection, or legal constraint. Carries a strong negative connotation of disregarding others' wishes or the rule of law. Common in news, legal, and political contexts. The action described is typically aggressive or legally questionable.

Examples

1. 警方强行进入犯罪嫌疑人的藏匿地点，当场将其逮捕归案。 Police forcibly entered the suspect’s hideout and arrested him on the spot.
2. 开发商无视村民反对，强行推进拆迁工程，引发了激烈的群体性事件。 Ignoring villagers’ opposition, the developer pushed ahead with demolition by force, triggering intense mass unrest.
3. 当局强行解散了那次集会，并逮捕了数十名示威者。 Authorities forcibly broke up the gathering and arrested dozens of protesters.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, media

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 在合同尚未到期的情况下，业主单方面强行终止租约，租客依法提起诉讼，最终获得了相应赔偿。(The landlord unilaterally and forcibly terminated the lease before the contract expired; the tenant filed a lawsuit in accordance with the law and ultimately received appropriate compensation.)
• 军队强行占领了边境城镇，封锁了所有对外通道，造成大量平民被困，人道主义形势急剧恶化。(The military forcibly occupied the border town, blockading all external passages, trapping large numbers of civilians and causing a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation.)

Don't Say

• 他强行吃了很多 — 强行 implies acting against external opposition or rules, not self-indulgence; use 硬是吃了很多 (stubbornly ate a lot) or 忍不住多吃了 (couldn't help eating more) for personal excess

Origin & History

强 (by force) + 行 (to act/carry out)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal