qiángzhuàng: 强壮 - Strong, Sturdy, Robust

• Keywords: qiangzhuang, qiángzhuàng, 强壮, strong in Chinese, healthy and strong Chinese, sturdy Chinese, robust, physically strong, build, physique, how to say strong in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to use the Chinese word 强壮 (qiángzhuàng), meaning “strong,” “sturdy,” or “robust.” This comprehensive guide explains its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage. Unlike the general English “strong,” `强壮` specifically describes a healthy, well-built physical state for people, animals, and even plants. Discover example sentences and learn to avoid common mistakes to sound like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiángzhuàng
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Physically strong, sturdy, and robust, often implying good health.
• In a Nutshell: `强壮` is the word you use to describe a person or animal with a solid, healthy, and powerful build. It's not just about having big muscles, but about an overall sense of physical vitality and resilience. Think of a healthy farmer, a playful child who never seems to get sick, or a sturdy workhorse. It's a strength that comes from a healthy constitution.

• 强 (qiáng): This character means “strong,” “powerful,” or “to strengthen.” It's one of the most common characters associated with strength in Chinese.
• 壮 (zhuàng): This character means “robust,” “sturdy,” “strong,” or “full-grown.” It often carries a sense of maturity and solidity, like a young man in his prime.

When you combine 强 (strong) and 壮 (robust), you get `强壮`, an adjective that powerfully evokes a sense of healthy, vigorous, physical strength. It's a complete package of power and vitality.

In Chinese culture, physical health and vitality are highly valued. Being `强壮` is seen as a great blessing and a fundamental requirement for a good life—it enables one to work hard, support a family, and withstand hardship. It's a very common and positive compliment, especially for children and young men. A key difference from the English word “strong” is its specificity. In English, “strong” is a jack-of-all-trades: strong coffee, a strong argument, a strong economy. `强壮` is almost exclusively used for the physical condition of living beings. You wouldn't use it for coffee or an argument. Comparing it to “athletic” is also useful. An athlete is certainly strong, but “athletic” might imply agility, speed, and skill in a sport. A marathon runner is athletic but might be described as lean (`精瘦 jīngshòu`) rather than `强壮`. A weightlifter or a traditional wrestler, however, is the perfect embodiment of `强壮`—powerful, solid, and robust.

`强壮` is a common, everyday word with a consistently positive connotation.

• Complimenting People: It's frequently used to praise someone's healthy appearance. Saying a child looks `强壮` is a compliment to the parents, implying they are raising a healthy kid. “你看起来很强壮 (Nǐ kànqǐlái hěn qiángzhuàng)” means “You look very strong and healthy.”
• Health and Fitness: The word is central to discussions about exercise, diet, and health. People go to the gym to make their bodies (`身体 shēntǐ`) more `强壮`.
• Describing Animals and Plants: A healthy horse, a large bull, or even a very old, sturdy tree can be described as `强壮`.

It is neutral in formality and can be used with friends, family, and in more formal written contexts like health articles.

• Example 1:
  • 他经常锻炼，所以身体很强壮。
  • Pinyin: Tā jīngcháng duànliàn, suǒyǐ shēntǐ hěn qiángzhuàng.
  • English: He often exercises, so his body is very strong and robust.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example linking exercise (`锻炼`) directly to the state of being `强壮`.
• Example 2:
  • 这个小男孩吃得很多，长得又高又强壮。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiǎo nánhái chī de hěn duō, zhǎng de yòu gāo yòu qiángzhuàng.
  • English: This little boy eats a lot, and has grown to be both tall and strong.
  • Analysis: A common way to describe a healthy, growing child. The structure “又…又… (yòu…yòu…)” means “both…and…”.
• Example 3:
  • 你需要一个强壮的身体才能做好这份工作。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào yī ge qiángzhuàng de shēntǐ cáinéng zuòhǎo zhè fèn gōngzuò.
  • English: You need a strong body to be able to do this job well.
  • Analysis: This highlights that `强壮` is often seen as a prerequisite for physically demanding labor.
• Example 4:
  • 这匹马看起来非常强壮，一定能跑得很快。
  • Pinyin: Zhè pǐ mǎ kànqǐlái fēicháng qiángzhuàng, yīdìng néng pǎo de hěn kuài.
  • English: This horse looks very strong/sturdy; it can definitely run very fast.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `强壮` for animals. `匹 (pǐ)` is the measure word for horses.
• Example 5:
  • 医生说，多吃蔬菜和蛋白质能让孩子更强壮。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō, duō chī shūcài hé dànbáizhì néng ràng háizi gèng qiángzhuàng.
  • English: The doctor said that eating more vegetables and protein can make children stronger.
  • Analysis: Shows `强壮` used in the context of health advice and nutrition. `更 (gèng)` means “more.”
• Example 6:
  • 和他的哥哥相比，他显得不那么强壮。
  • Pinyin: Hé tā de gēge xiāngbǐ, tā xiǎnde bù nàme qiángzhuàng.
  • English: Compared to his older brother, he seems less strong.
  • Analysis: A comparative sentence. `显得 (xiǎnde)` means “to seem” or “to appear.”
• Example 7:
  • 院子里的那棵老橡树依然很强壮。
  • Pinyin: Yuànzi lǐ de nà kē lǎo xiàngshù yīrán hěn qiángzhuàng.
  • English: That old oak tree in the yard is still very sturdy/strong.
  • Analysis: An excellent example of using `强壮` for a non-animal living thing, emphasizing its resilience and solid structure.
• Example 8:
  • 为了变得强壮，我每天都去健身房。
  • Pinyin: Wèile biànde qiángzhuàng, wǒ měitiān dōu qù jiànshēnfáng.
  • English: In order to become strong, I go to the gym every day.
  • Analysis: A sentence showing `强壮` as a goal or motivation. `为了 (wèile)` means “in order to.”
• Example 9:
  • 他病了很久，现在身体不像以前那么强壮了。
  • Pinyin: Tā bìng le hěn jiǔ, xiànzài shēntǐ bù xiàng yǐqián nàme qiángzhuàng le.
  • English: He was sick for a long time, and now his body isn't as strong as it was before.
  • Analysis: This shows `强壮` in contrast to a state of weakness after an illness.
• Example 10:
  • 作为一名消防员，强壮的体魄是必须的。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng xiāofángyuán, qiángzhuàng de tǐpò shì bìxū de.
  • English: As a firefighter, a strong physique is necessary.
  • Analysis: Here, `强壮` modifies `体魄 (tǐpò)`, a more formal word for “physique,” showing its use in a slightly more formal context.

• Mistake 1: Using `强壮` for abstract things.
  • Incorrect: ~~这个理由很强壮。~~ (Zhège lǐyóu hěn qiángzhuàng.)
  • Why it's wrong: `强壮` is for physical bodies. For a “strong reason” or “strong evidence,” you should use `有力 (yǒulì)` or `充分 (chōngfèn)`.
  • Correct: 这个理由很充分。(Zhège lǐyóu hěn chōngfèn.) - This reason is sufficient/strong.
• Mistake 2: Using `强壮` for flavors or drinks.
  • Incorrect: ~~我喜欢强壮的咖啡。~~ (Wǒ xǐhuān qiángzhuàng de kāfēi.)
  • Why it's wrong: “Strong coffee” refers to its concentration, not its physical build.
  • Correct: 我喜欢浓咖啡。(Wǒ xǐhuān nóng kāfēi.) - I like strong coffee.
• Mistake 3: Confusing `强壮` with `厉害 (lìhai)`.
  • `厉害` means “awesome,” “fierce,” or “capable” and is much broader. A brilliant but physically frail scientist is `厉害`, not `强壮`. A weightlifter is both `强壮` (physically) and `厉害` (capable at lifting). Don't use `强壮` to mean “awesome” in general.

• 健康 (jiànkāng) - Healthy. Being `健康` is the foundation for being `强壮`. You can be healthy without being particularly strong, but you can't be truly `强壮` without being healthy.
• 结实 (jiēshi) - Sturdy, solid, durable. Very similar to `强壮` for people, but more commonly used for objects (e.g., a sturdy table). When describing a person, it suggests a compact, dense build.
• 强大 (qiángdà) - Powerful, formidable. This is used for large-scale, abstract power, like a `强大` country, army, or company. Never use it to describe a person's physical body.
• 有力 (yǒulì) - Powerful, forceful. Describes the application of force or impact (e.g., a powerful punch, forceful words). `强壮` is the state of having strength, while `有力` is the act of using it.
• 健壮 (jiànzhuàng) - Healthy and strong; robust. A very close synonym to `强壮`, sometimes considered slightly more formal.
• 虚弱 (xūruò) - Feeble, weak. The direct antonym of `强壮`, describing a state of poor health and lack of physical strength.
• 锻炼 (duànliàn) - To exercise, work out. The most common activity one does to become `强壮`.
• 肌肉 (jīròu) - Muscle. Having well-developed `肌肉` is a key component of being `强壮`.