坚强 jiānqiáng staunch
staunch; strong
How to remember 坚强: 坚 resolutely + 强 strong = staunch.
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How it is used
- 坚强 (jiānqiáng) describes inner strength - mental or emotional resilience in the face of hardship, not physical strength.
- Common as a predicate about a person's character: 她很坚强 (tā hěn jiānqiáng) - she's strong/tough (emotionally).
- Fixed phrase: 坚强的意志 (jiānqiáng de yìzhì, strong will/willpower).
- Contrast with 强壮 (qiángzhuàng), which describes physical strength/build - a bodybuilder is 强壮, someone who overcame tragedy without breaking down is 坚强.