勉勉强强 (miǎn miǎn qiǎng qiǎng) — reluctantly; unwillingly; with half a heart; barely; narrowly; just enough

Definition

Reduplication of 勉强, used as an adverb to do something 'reluctantly' or 'just barely'. The first sense carries the attitude; the second is about a narrow margin (e.g. barely passing).

bound form
reluctantlyunwillinglywith half a heartbarelynarrowlyjust enough

Examples

  • 勉勉强强。
    Tā miǎn miǎn qiǎng qiǎng dì dā ying le wǒ men de yāo qǐng.
    He reluctantly agreed to our invitation.
  • 勉勉强强。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì tā miǎn miǎn qiǎng qiǎng jí gé le.
    She barely passed this exam.
  • ，勉勉强强。
    Suī rán bú è, tā hái shì miǎn miǎn qiǎng qiǎng chī le jǐ kǒu fàn.
    Even though he wasn't hungry, he still reluctantly ate a few bites of rice.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

勉勉
勉miǎnstrive/force勉miǎnstrive/force
强强
强qiángforce/compel强qiángforce/compel

The senses of 勉 and 强 are repeated, giving a weakened idea of doing something just enough or unwillingly.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
免
免miǎn勉miǎn
Same sound today

勉 puts 力, meaning strong, beside 免, which gives the sound. The shape shows making a strong effort.

Open 勉 →

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
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
免
免miǎn勉miǎn
Same sound today

勉 puts 力, meaning strong, beside 免, which gives the sound. The shape shows making a strong effort.

Open 勉 →

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.

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 →

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