Translation and Meaning of: 強い - tsuyoi
The Japanese word 強い[つよい] is a fundamental term for anyone learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is "strong" or "powerful," but its use goes far beyond the literal translation. In this article, we will explore everything from writing and pronunciation to curiosities about how this word is perceived in everyday Japanese life.
In addition to being common in everyday conversations, 強い appears in popular expressions, animes, and even in philosophical contexts. If you want to understand how to use it correctly or discover why it is so prevalent in Japanese vocabulary, keep reading. Suki Nihongo, the best online Japanese dictionary, has gathered everything you need to know about this versatile word.
Meaning and use of 強い in everyday Japanese
The basic meaning of 強い is "strong", but its use ranges from physical to emotional characteristics. A person can be 強い for having developed muscles, but also for demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges. This duality makes the word applicable in various contexts, from sports to discussions about personality.
In Japan, being 強い doesn't always have a positive connotation. Depending on the context, it can indicate excessive rigidity or a lack of flexibility. For example, saying that someone has 強い opinions suggests stubbornness, not just conviction. This nuance is important for language students, as tone and situation completely change the interpretation.
The writing and components of the kanji 強
The kanji 強 is composed of elements that reinforce its meaning. The radical 弓 (yumi) appears on the left side, while the right side brings 畺, formerly associated with the concept of strength. This combination visually represents the power of a drawn bow, a metaphor for resilience and vigor.
It is worth noting that 強 has readings beyond つよい, such as きょう in compound words. For example, 強化[きょうか] means "strengthening." Knowing these variations helps to expand vocabulary and better understand the structure of the language. To memorize, one tip is to associate the radical of the bow with the idea of something that needs strength to be tensioned.
Strong in Japanese culture and media
In anime and manga, 強い is often used to describe characters with exceptional abilities, but also those who overcome adversities. Phrases like "心が強い"[こころがつよい] - "to have a strong heart" - appear in plots that value perseverance, reflecting an important cultural ideal in Japan.
In addition to entertainment, the word is present in proverbs and traditional teachings. An example is the expression "強い者が勝つとは限らない" - "the strongest does not always win" - which shows how the concept of strength is discussed in complex ways in Japanese society. These uses reveal layers of meaning that go beyond the dictionary.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 強力 (Kyōryoku) - Powerful, strong
- 頑丈 (Ganjō) - Robust, resistant
- 堅牢 (Kenrō) - Solid, firm
- 剛健 (Gōken) - Healthy, strong
- 強靭 (Kyōjin) - Flexible and resistant
- 強固 (Kyōko) - Firm, secure
- 強烈 (Kyōretsu) - Intense, strong
- 強大 (Kyōdai) - great, powerful
- 強硬 (Kyōkō) - Tough, firm (in position)
- 強気 (Tsuyoki) - Confident, assertive
- 強制 (Kyōsei) - Forced, compulsory
- 強要 (Kyōyō) - Coercion, imposition
- 強面 (Kyōmen) - Severe expression, unfriendly face
- 強情 (Gōjō) - Stubborn, resolute
- 強風 (Kyōfū) - Strong wind
Related words
Romaji: tsuyoi
Kana: つよい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: strong; powerful; powerful; powerful
Meaning in English: strong;powerful;mighty;potent
Definition: Strong power or force.
Quick Access
- Vocabulary
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How to Write in Japanese - (強い) tsuyoi
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (強い) tsuyoi:
Example Sentences - (強い) tsuyoi
See below some example sentences:
Mesu wa tsuyoi
The female is strong.
Feminine is strong.
- 雌 - It means "female" in Japanese.
- は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
- 強い - It means "strong" in Japanese.
Tetsu wa tsuyoi kinzoku desu
Iron is a strong metal.
- 鉄 (tetsu) - Iron
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 強い (tsuyoi) - strong
- 金属 (kinzoku) - metal
- です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form
Rengō wa tsuyoi chikara o motte imasu
Unity has great power.
The Union has a strong power.
- 連合 (rengou) - means "union" or "coalition"
- は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "連合"
- 強い (tsuyoi) - adjective meaning "strong"
- 力 (chikara) - noun that means "strength" or "power"
- を (wo) - object particle, indicates that "力" is the direct object of the sentence
- 持っています (motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have" or "to possess", in the present continuous
Watashi no ude wa tsuyoi desu
My arms are strong.
My arm is strong.
- 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
- の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
- 腕 - noun that means "arm"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 強い - adjective meaning "strong"
- です - verb that indicates the state or action, in this case, "to be"
Otoko no hito wa tsuyoi desu
Men are strong.
The man is strong.
- 男の人 - man
- は - Topic particle
- 強い - strong
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Danshi wa tsuyoi desu
Men are strong.
The boys are strong.
- 男子 - A palavra em japonês que significa "homem" é 男 (おとこ, otoko).
- は - Japanese topic particle
- 強い - The Japanese adjective that means "strong" is 強い (tsuyoi).
- です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a polite assertion
Hanpatsu suru chikara ga tsuyoi desu
The repulsion force is strong.
I have a strong repulsion.
- 反発する (hanpatsu suru) - verb that means "reject" or "resist"
- 力 (chikara) - noun that means "strength" or "power"
- が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
- 強い (tsuyoi) - Adjective that means "strong" or "powerful"
- です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence
Kono maku wa totemo usukute tsuyoi desu
This membrane is very thin and strong.
This membrane is very thin and strong.
- この (kono) - this, these
- 膜 (maku) - membrane, film
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- とても (totemo) - very
- 薄い (usui) - fine, light
- 強い (tsuyoi) - strong
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kono kusuri no kikime wa sugoku tsuyoi desu
The effect of this medicine is very strong.
- この - this
- 薬 - medicine
- の - Possession particle
- 効き目 - effect
- は - Topic particle
- すごく - very
- 強い - strong
- です - Verb to be/estar
Ore wa tsuyoi desu
I'm strong.
- 俺 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I" or "my".
- は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
- 強い - Japanese adjective that means "strong" or "powerful"
- です - Japanese verb that indicates the polite and respectful way to affirm something, in this case, "I am strong."
Other Words of this Type: adjective
See other words from our dictionary that are also: adjective
