彊 is a rare, historical variant of 強, primarily meaning “strong,” “powerful,” or “forceful.” It is mostly encountered in Classical Chinese, old inscriptions, historical names, and scholarly editions; modern Traditional Chinese normally uses 強, while Simplified Chinese uses 强. Taiwan’s Ministry of Education officially lists 彊 as a variant of 強, while noting that it can also function as an independent character in historical usage. (dict.variants.moe.edu.tw)
Pronunciations and senses
- qiáng: strong, powerful, vigorous; the most likely reading when the character appears alone
- qiǎng: to force, compel, or do something reluctantly
- jiàng: stubborn or unyielding, especially in words corresponding to 倔強
The character is graphically composed of 弓, “bow,” and 畺, which supplies its sound. This structure evokes the older association with a strong or tightly drawn bow. In contemporary writing, replacing it with 強 is normally appropriate.
Notable English equivalents include strong, powerful, vigorous, forceful, compel, and stubborn. There is no common modern slang use of 彊 itself; its rarity usually gives writing an archaic, literary, or antiquarian tone.
Examples
- 國彊則民安，國弱則民危。
When the country is strong, its people are secure; when the country is weak, its people are in danger.
- 其志甚彊，雖困而不屈。
His will is very strong, and he does not yield despite adversity.
- 敵彊我弱，不可輕進。
The enemy is strong and we are weak, so we must not advance carelessly.
- 弓彊箭勁，故能射遠。
The bow is strong and the arrow is powerful, so it can shoot far.
- 勤學不怠，則才力日彊。
If you study diligently without becoming lax, your abilities will grow stronger each day.
- 此事不可勉彊為之。
You must not force yourself to do this.
- 他性情倔彊，從不輕易低頭。
He has a stubborn temperament and never gives in easily.
