强弱 (qiáng ruò) — (noun) the strong and the weak; relative strength (of people, nations, teams, etc.); (noun) intensity (of signals, sound, light, etc.); strength or weakness of a measurable quantity

Definition

A paired noun meaning 'the strong and the weak' — used for people, teams, or nations, AND for measurable intensity like sound or light. Think '强弱对比' (contrast in strength) or '声音的强弱' (loudness).

noun
the strong and the weakrelative strength (of people, nations, teams, etc.)intensity (of signals, sound, light, etc.)strength or weakness of a measurable quantity

Examples

  • 强弱。
    Guó jiā de qiáng ruò qǔ jué yú jīng jì shí lì.
    A country's relative strength depends on its economic power.
  • 强弱。
    Wǒ men kě yǐ tiáo jié shōu yīn jī de yīn liàng qiáng ruò.
    We can adjust the volume intensity of the radio.
  • 强弱。
    Bǐ sài zhōng shuāng fāng de qiáng ruò duì bǐ hěn míng xiǎn.
    The contrast of strength between the two sides in the match is very clear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

强qiángstrong
弱ruòweak

强 (strong) and 弱 (weak) together name the strong and the weak or relative intensity.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

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