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强壮 (qiáng zhuàng) — strong, sturdy, robust; to strengthen, to build up (one's body)

Definition

Describes a strong, sturdy body or physique (people, animals). Unlike 健壮 or 茁壮, it focuses on physical power rather than health or growth; 雄厚 and 强劲 describe abstract strength, not bodies.

strongsturdyrobustto strengthento build up (one's body)

Examples

  • 强壮，。
    Tā shēn tǐ hěn qiáng zhuàng, hěn shǎo shēng bìng.
    He has a strong body and rarely gets sick.
  • 强壮。
    Jiān chí duàn liàn kě yǐ qiáng zhuàng jī ròu.
    Consistent exercise can strengthen muscles.
  • 强壮，。
    Zhè pǐ mǎ fēi cháng qiáng zhuàng, néng pǎo hěn yuǎn.
    This horse is very sturdy and can run very far.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

强qiángstrong
壮zhuàngsturdy

The word joins 强, 'strong', and 壮, 'sturdy', for robust strength.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壯; 壮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
士士shì
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán壯zhuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壯 uses 士 to hint at the meaning and 爿 for the sound; the simplified 壮 is a later abbreviation.

Open 壮 →
Appears in
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