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身强力壮 (shēn qiáng lì zhuàng) — strong and sturdy; robust; tough

Definition

A set-phrase praising someone as physically powerful, with a fit, energetic build — stronger and more vivid than plain 强壮. Used for people, not objects.

idiom
strong and sturdyrobusttough

Examples

  • ，身强力壮。
    Tā cóng xiǎo duàn liàn, xiàn zài shēn qiáng lì zhuàng.
    He has been exercising since childhood, and now he is strong and sturdy.
  • 身强力壮，。
    Zhè xiē bān yùn gōng gè gè shēn qiáng lì zhuàng, gān qǐ huó lái hěn kuài.
    These movers are all strong and sturdy, and they work fast.
  • ，身强力壮，。
    Suī rán tā yǐ jīng liù shí suì le, dàn yī rán shēn qiáng lì zhuàng, měi tiān pǎo bù.
    Although he is already sixty years old, he is still strong and sturdy and runs every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

身强body is strong
身shēnbody强qiángstrong
主谓Subject + predicate
力壮strength is sturdy
力lìstrength壮zhuàngsturdy
主谓Subject + predicate

身强力壮 says '身' is '强' and '力' is '壮'.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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
Fitness & ExerciseIdioms & Set Phrases

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