qiángguó: 强国 - Powerful Nation, Strong Country, Superpower

• Keywords: qiangguo, 强国, powerful nation, strong country, superpower, China's rise, national strength, Chinese dream, define qiangguo, what does qiangguo mean
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 强国 (qiángguó), a vital modern Chinese term for “powerful nation” or “superpower.” This word encapsulates China's national ambition to become a leading global force, not just economically, but also militarily, technologically, and culturally. Understanding 强国 (qiángguó) is essential for grasping contemporary Chinese politics, media narratives, and the concept of the “Chinese Dream.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiángguó
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Equivalent to HSK 5+ vocabulary)
• Concise Definition: A powerful and influential nation; a superpower.
• In a Nutshell: 强国 (qiángguó) is more than just a “strong country”; it's a term loaded with national aspiration and pride. Think of it as the ultimate goal in a country's development—achieving a state of comprehensive national strength that commands international respect and influence. It is the destination of the “Chinese Dream” (中国梦, Zhōngguó Mèng) and a constant theme in modern Chinese society.

• 强 (qiáng): Strong, powerful, mighty. The character contains the component for a bow (弓, gōng), evoking the image of drawing a strong bow, a classic symbol of strength.
• 国 (guó): Country, nation, state. The modern character shows a boundary (囗) with a piece of jade (玉, yù) inside. Jade symbolizes value and authority, so the character represents a precious territory under a single rule—a nation.
• Together, 强 (qiáng) and 国 (guó) literally mean “strong country,” but the combined meaning elevates to “powerful nation” or “superpower,” implying a nation that is influential on the world stage.

强国 (qiángguó) is one of the most important concepts for understanding modern China's psyche and political goals. Its significance is deeply rooted in history and national identity. The drive to become a 强国 is largely a response to what is known in China as the “Century of Humiliation” (百年国耻, bǎinián guóchǐ), a period from the mid-19th to mid-20th century when China was subjected to foreign invasions and unequal treaties. The pursuit of 强国 status is therefore seen as a way to “rejuvenate” the nation (民族复兴, mínzú fùxīng) and restore China to what is perceived as its historical position of global prominence. Comparison with “Superpower”: While 强国 (qiángguó) can be translated as “superpower,” there's a key difference in connotation. The English term “superpower” often focuses on external military and political projection (e.g., the Cold War superpowers). 强国, while including this, has a stronger internal focus. It represents a state of comprehensive national strength—encompassing a strong economy, advanced technology, military might, cultural influence, and high living standards for its people. It's a holistic goal of national self-realization and a source of immense national pride.

强国 (qiángguó) is a formal and aspirational term you will encounter frequently in official contexts, but it's also used in everyday discussions about national progress.

This is the most common context. You'll see it constantly in news headlines, government work reports, and political speeches. It is often part of official goals and slogans.

• Example Phrase: “建设社会主义现代化强国” (jiànshè shèhuìzhǔyì xiàndàihuà qiángguó) - “To build a modern socialist powerful nation.”

Netizens and regular people use 强国 (qiángguó) to express national pride, especially after a major achievement like a successful space mission or a technological breakthrough.

• The connotation is overwhelmingly positive and patriotic. It's a collective goal that unites people.

• Example 1:
  • 中国的长期目标是成为一个世界强国。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de chángqī mùbiāo shì chéngwéi yí ge shìjiè qiángguó.
  • English: China's long-term goal is to become a world powerful nation.
  • Analysis: This sentence states a clear national ambition. 强国 here is used as the ultimate objective.
• Example 2:
  • 科技创新是强国富民的必经之路。
  • Pinyin: Kējì chuàngxīn shì qiángguó fùmín de bìjīngzhīlù.
  • English: Technological innovation is the necessary path to making the nation strong and the people rich.
  • Analysis: This links technological progress directly to the goal of becoming a 强国. The phrase 强国富民 (qiángguó fùmín) is a common pairing.
• Example 3:
  • 一个真正的强国不仅要有经济实力，还要有文化自信。
  • Pinyin: Yí ge zhēnzhèng de qiángguó bùjǐn yào yǒu jīngjì shílì, hái yào yǒu wénhuà zìxìn.
  • English: A true powerful nation must not only have economic strength, but also cultural confidence.
  • Analysis: This highlights the comprehensive nature of the term, extending beyond just money or military.
• Example 4:
  • 很多人相信，我们正在见证一个强国的崛起。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén xiāngxìn, wǒmen zhèngzài jiànzhèng yí ge qiángguó de juéqǐ.
  • English: Many people believe we are witnessing the rise of a powerful nation.
  • Analysis: The term 崛起 (juéqǐ) - “to rise” - is frequently used with 强国.
• Example 5:
  • 强大的国防是强国地位的保障。
  • Pinyin: Qiángdà de guófáng shì qiángguó dìwèi de bǎozhàng.
  • English: A strong national defense is the guarantee of a powerful nation's status.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly connects military strength to the concept of being a 强国.
• Example 6:
  • 他毕生的梦想就是看到祖国成为强国。
  • Pinyin: Tā bìshēng de mèngxiǎng jiùshì kàndào zǔguó chéngwéi qiángguó.
  • English: His lifelong dream is to see his motherland become a powerful nation.
  • Analysis: Shows the deep, personal, and patriotic emotion associated with the term.
• Example 7:
  • 这次奥运会的成功举办，展示了我们的强国形象。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì Àoyùnhuì de chénggōng jǔbàn, zhǎnshì le wǒmen de qiángguó xíngxiàng.
  • English: The successful hosting of these Olympic Games showcased our image as a powerful nation.
  • Analysis: Here, 强国 is used as an adjective to describe “image” (形象).
• Example 8:
  • 建设海洋强国是一个重要的国家战略。
  • Pinyin: Jiànshè hǎiyáng qiángguó shì yí ge zhòngyào de guójiā zhànlüè.
  • English: Building a maritime powerful nation is an important national strategy.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 强国 can be combined with other nouns (like 海洋, ocean) to specify the type of power being pursued.
• Example 9:
  • 从一个贫穷的国家发展成一个强国，需要几代人的努力。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yí ge pínqióng de guójiā fāzhǎn chéng yí ge qiángguó, xūyào jǐ dài rén de nǔlì.
  • English: To develop from a poor country into a powerful nation requires the efforts of several generations.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames the journey to becoming a 强国 as a long and arduous process.
• Example 10:
  • 体育强国的标志之一是在各种国际赛事上取得好成绩。
  • Pinyin: Tǐyù qiángguó de biāozhì zhīyī shì zài gèzhǒng guójì sàishì shàng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.
  • English: One of the signs of being a sporting power is achieving good results in various international competitions.
  • Analysis: Similar to example 8, this shows 强国 can be specialized, e.g., 体育强国 (tǐyù qiángguó), a sporting powerhouse.

• Mistake 1: Not just about physical strength.
  • A beginner might see 强 (qiáng) and think it means “a country with strong people.” This is incorrect. 强国 refers to comprehensive national power: economic, political, military, and cultural.
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with 富国 (fùguó) - “Rich Country”.
  • While a 强国 is almost always a 富国 (fùguó, rich country), the focus is different. A country can be wealthy (e.g., due to oil) without having significant global military or political influence. 强国 implies a much broader and more formidable type of power.
  • Incorrect: 瑞士是一个军事强国。 (Ruìshì shì yí ge jūnshì qiángguó.) - “Switzerland is a military superpower.” (Incorrect, as Switzerland is famously neutral).
  • Correct: 瑞士是一个非常富裕的国家。 (Ruìshì shì yí ge fēicháng fùyù de guójiā.) - “Switzerland is a very wealthy country.”
• Mistake 3: Using it for non-countries.
  • 强国 is reserved for nations. To describe a powerful company or person, you should use 强大 (qiángdà).
  • Incorrect: 华为是一个强国。 (Huáwéi shì yí ge qiángguó.)
  • Correct: 华为是一个非常强大的公司。 (Huáwéi shì yí ge fēicháng qiángdà de gōngsī.) - “Huawei is a very powerful company.”

• 中国梦 (Zhōngguó Mèng) - The Chinese Dream; the overarching national vision where becoming a 强国 is a central goal.
• 大国 (dàguó) - A large nation or major power. This term emphasizes size and significance, whereas 强国 emphasizes strength and influence. All superpowers are major powers, but not all major powers are superpowers.
• 崛起 (juéqǐ) - To rise, to emerge. Often used to describe the process of a nation becoming powerful, e.g., “中国的崛起” (The Rise of China).
• 复兴 (fùxīng) - Rejuvenation or revival. The ultimate ideological goal is the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” (中华民族伟大复兴), which is achieved by becoming a 强国.
• 富国 (fùguó) - A wealthy nation. This focuses on economic prosperity, which is a prerequisite for, but not the entirety of, being a 强国.
• 强军 (qiángjūn) - A strong military. The “strong military dream” (强军梦) is considered a key pillar of the “strong nation dream” (强国梦).
• 超级大国 (chāojí dàguó) - Superpower. A more direct and literal translation, often used in academic or formal contexts to refer to nations like the United States. 强国 is the more common and emotionally resonant term used within China for its own aspirations.
• 霸权 (bàquán) - Hegemony. This has a negative connotation of a country dominating others through force. Chinese officials often state that China seeks to be a 强国 but will never seek 霸权.