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强硬 (qiáng yìng) — tough, unyielding, hard-line

Definition

Describes a firm, unyielding attitude or stance (negotiation style, measures, personality). Unlike 硬, it always refers to character or policy, not physical hardness.

adjective
toughunyieldinghard-line

Examples

  • 强硬。
    Zhè wèi wài jiāo guān yǐ qiáng yìng de tán pàn fēng gé zhù chēng.
    This diplomat is known for his tough negotiating style.
  • 强硬。
    Gōng sī duì wéi guī xíng wéi cǎi qǔ le qiáng yìng cuò shī.
    The company took tough measures against violations.
  • 强硬，。
    Tā xìng gé qiáng yìng, cóng bù qīng yì tuǒ xié.
    He has a tough personality and never compromises easily.

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
硬yìnghard

强 means strong, and 硬 means hard or unyielding, giving the idea of a tough stance.

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
更
更gèng硬yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

硬 is built from 石, meaning stone, to show hardness or stiffness, and 更, which gives the sound.

Open 硬 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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