qiǎngpò: 强迫 - To Force, Compel, Coerce

• Keywords: qiangpo, qiǎngpò, 强迫, force in Chinese, compel in Chinese, coerce Chinese, Chinese word for force, how to say pressure in Chinese, Chinese grammar, Chinese verb, HSK 5, OCD in Chinese, 强迫症
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 强迫 (qiǎngpò), which means “to force,” “to compel,” or “to coerce.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage, including its crucial role in the term for OCD, 强迫症 (qiǎngpòzhèng). Discover how to use 强迫 (qiǎngpò) correctly in sentences, understand its strong negative connotation, and see how it differs from similar words like 逼 (bī) and 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiǎngpò
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To force, compel, or coerce someone to do something against their will.
• In a Nutshell: 强迫 (qiǎngpò) is a strong, direct word that describes using power, authority, or pressure to make someone do something they don't want to do. It carries a heavy, negative feeling, implying a violation of the person's own desires. Think of it as overcoming someone's resistance through force, not persuasion.

• 强 (qiǎng): This character means “strong,” “powerful,” or in this context, “to force.” It is composed of a bow (弓) and another component, visually suggesting the strength needed to draw a bow. This character sets the forceful and intense tone of the word.
• 迫 (pò): This character means “to compel,” “to press,” or “urgent.” The radical 辶 (chuò) means “to walk” or “to move,” suggesting pursuit or pressure. The combination implies being pursued or pressed into action.
• Together, 强迫 (qiǎngpò) literally means “to forcefully compel.” The two characters reinforce each other, creating a word that is unambiguous in its meaning of coercion and the application of unwanted pressure.

强迫 (qiǎngpò) touches upon universal themes of power and autonomy, but it has particular resonance within social structures that emphasize hierarchy and obligation. In traditional Chinese culture, the dynamic between parents and children, or teachers and students, often involved a higher degree of what might be perceived as “forcing” from a Western perspective. For example, a parent 强迫 (qiǎngpò) their child to practice piano for hours was often seen as a sign of responsible parenting—a duty to ensure the child's future success. This contrasts with a modern Western cultural ideal that places a very high value on individual choice and self-determination from a young age. While a Western parent might “strongly encourage” an activity, using a word with the force of 强迫 (qiǎngpò) would almost certainly be seen as negative and potentially harmful. Today, while China is modernizing rapidly, these traditional undercurrents still exist. However, the most significant modern cultural context for 强迫 (qiǎngpò) is in the term 强迫症 (qiǎngpòzhèng), or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This term is widely known and has brought the concept of internal, psychological “forcing” into the mainstream consciousness, describing the feeling of being compelled by one's own mind to perform repetitive actions.

强迫 (qiǎngpò) is almost always used with a negative connotation. It implies the action is undesirable and resisted by the person being forced.

• In Daily Conversation: It's used to describe personal situations, such as being forced to go to a party, eat something you dislike, or make a decision you're not ready for.
  • e.g., “你别强迫我了！” (Nǐ bié qiǎngpò wǒ le! - Stop forcing me!)
• In the Workplace: This is a common context, often referring to a boss forcing employees to work overtime (加班 jiābān) or take on unreasonable tasks.
• In Psychology and Health: The term 强迫症 (qiǎngpòzhèng - OCD) is the most common and important modern usage. It is a standard medical term. You might also hear people colloquially say “我有点强迫症” (Wǒ yǒudiǎn qiǎngpòzhèng - I'm a bit OCD) to describe perfectionistic or overly meticulous habits, even if they don't have the clinical disorder.

• Example 1:
  • 父母不应该强迫孩子学习他们不感兴趣的东西。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ bù yīnggāi qiǎngpò háizi xuéxí tāmen bù gǎn xìngqù de dōngxi.
  • English: Parents shouldn't force their children to study things they aren't interested in.
  • Analysis: A classic example discussing parental pressure and education. The use of 强迫 highlights the lack of choice for the child.
• Example 2:
  • 他强迫自己露出了一个微笑，但看起来很不自然。
  • Pinyin: Tā qiǎngpò zìjǐ lùchū le yí ge wēixiào, dàn kànqǐlái hěn bù zìrán.
  • English: He forced himself to show a smile, but it looked very unnatural.
  • Analysis: This shows 强迫 can be reflexive—you can force yourself to do something. The result is often unnatural, as the sentence notes.
• Example 3:
  • 在那次聚会上，我被强迫喝了很多酒。
  • Pinyin: Zài nà cì jùhuì shàng, wǒ bèi qiǎngpò hē le hěn duō jiǔ.
  • English: At that party, I was forced to drink a lot of alcohol.
  • Analysis: This uses the passive structure 被 (bèi), which is very common with 强迫. It emphasizes that the subject is the unwilling recipient of the action.
• Example 4:
  • 你不能强迫别人接受你的观点。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng qiǎngpò biérén jiēshòu nǐ de guāndiǎn.
  • English: You can't force other people to accept your point of view.
  • Analysis: Here, 强迫 is used for imposing something abstract, like ideas or opinions.
• Example 5:
  • 老板强迫我们周末加班，大家都很不满。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn qiǎngpò wǒmen zhōumò jiābān, dàjiā dōu hěn bùmǎn.
  • English: The boss forced us to work overtime on the weekend, and everyone was very unhappy.
  • Analysis: A very common complaint in a workplace context. 强迫 perfectly captures the feeling of being made to do something by a superior.
• Example 6:
  • 我有强迫症，出门前总要检查好几遍门锁。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu qiǎngpòzhèng, chūmén qián zǒng yào jiǎnchá hǎo jǐ biàn ménsuǒ.
  • English: I have OCD; I always have to check the door lock several times before leaving.
  • Analysis: This is the critical medical/psychological usage. 强迫症 (qiǎngpòzhèng) is a fixed term derived from 强迫.
• Example 7:
  • 如果你不愿意，我不会强迫你的。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù yuànyì, wǒ bú huì qiǎngpò nǐ de.
  • English: If you're not willing, I won't force you.
  • Analysis: A reassuring phrase, often used to show respect for someone's decision.
• Example 8:
  • 没有任何人强迫我，这是我自己的决定。
  • Pinyin: Méiyǒu rènhé rén qiǎngpò wǒ, zhè shì wǒ zìjǐ de juédìng.
  • English: Nobody forced me; this was my own decision.
  • Analysis: This sentence strongly asserts personal agency by explicitly denying that any coercion took place.
• Example 9:
  • 罪犯强迫他交出了钱包。
  • Pinyin: Zuìfàn qiǎngpò tā jiāochū le qiánbāo.
  • English: The criminal forced him to hand over his wallet.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 强迫 in a context of crime and threat, where the coercion is direct and physical.
• Example 10:
  • 生活的压力强迫他放弃了梦想。
  • Pinyin: Shēnghuó de yālì qiǎngpò tā fàngqì le mèngxiǎng.
  • English: The pressures of life forced him to give up on his dreams.
  • Analysis: This shows that the “forcer” doesn't have to be a person. An abstract concept like “pressure” (压力) can also 强迫 someone.

• 强迫 (qiǎngpò) vs. 逼 (bī): This is a common point of confusion.
  • 强迫 (qiǎngpò) is more formal and emphasizes the use of power or authority by an agent (a person, a company) to make someone do something against their expressed or implied will.
  • 逼 (bī) is more colloquial and can also mean “to press” or “to be cornered.” It often implies pressure from a situation or circumstances, not just a person. For example, in the phrase 逼不得已 (bī bù dé yǐ), it means “to be forced by circumstances with no other choice.” You wouldn't say “强迫不得已”.
• 强迫 (qiǎngpò) vs. 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng):
  • 强迫 (qiǎngpò) is about forcing someone else.
  • 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng) is much milder. It can mean “to do something reluctantly” or “to manage with difficulty.” A smile can be 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng), meaning it's reluctant or weak. While 强迫 can also be used for a forced smile, it implies a much stronger, more negative external pressure. If you 勉强 someone, it's more like “reluctantly persuading” them.
• False Friend: “Compelling”: In English, an argument or a story can be “compelling,” meaning it's fascinating and captures your attention. 强迫 (qiǎngpò) never has this positive, inspirational meaning. It is strictly about unwanted force.

• 逼 (bī) - To force, to press. A more colloquial and often circumstantial alternative to 强迫.
• 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng) - To do with difficulty; reluctant(ly). A much milder form of forcing, often implying reluctance or just barely succeeding.
• 强迫症 (qiǎngpòzhèng) - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The most important derivative term, using 强迫 to describe an internal, psychological compulsion.
• 强制 (qiángzhì) - To enforce; mandatory, compulsory. More official and systematic than 强迫. It's used for laws, rules, and regulations (e.g., 强制隔离, mandatory quarantine).
• 强加 (qiángjiā) - To impose (one's views, will) upon others. Similar to 强迫, but specifically used for imposing non-physical things like ideas, plans, or responsibilities.
• 压力 (yālì) - Pressure, stress. This is often the cause or feeling associated with being 强迫'd.
• 威胁 (wēixié) - To threaten, menace. A common method used to 强迫 someone. A threat is the tool; forcing is the action.