强盛 (qiáng shèng) — strong and prosperous (of a nation, country, etc.)

Definition

Used almost exclusively for countries, dynasties, or large regions — ‘strong and prosperous’ in the sense of national power and flourishing. Stronger and more literary than 强大, which can describe any entity.

adjective
strong and prosperous (of a nation, country, etc.)

Examples

  • 强盛。
    Yí gè qiáng shèng de guó jiā xū yào wěn dìng de jīng jì.
    A strong and prosperous country needs a stable economy.
  • ，强盛。
    Jīng guò jǐ shí nián de fā zhǎn, zhè ge dì qū biàn de fēi cháng qiáng shèng.
    After decades of development, this region has become very strong and prosperous.
  • ，强盛。
    Zhǐ yǒu rén mín tuán jié, guó jiā cái néng qiáng shèng.
    Only when the people are united can the country be strong and prosperous.

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
盛shèngflourishing

强 (strong) and 盛 (flourishing) combine to mean strong and prosperous.

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng盛shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Open 盛 →

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