====== qiángdà: 强大 - Powerful, Strong, Mighty ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** qiangda, 强大, qiángdà, powerful in Chinese, strong in Chinese, mighty, formidable, Chinese word for powerful, China's power, HSK 4 vocabulary, learn Chinese power.
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **强大 (qiángdà)**, the essential Chinese adjective for "powerful," "strong," or "mighty." This guide explores how **强大** is used to describe not just the strength of countries and economies, but also the power of technology and a person's inner resilience. Learn its cultural significance in modern China, see practical examples, and understand the key difference between **强大 (qiángdà)** and **厉害 (lìhai)** to speak more like a native.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qiáng dà
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** Describes something as powerful, mighty, strong, or formidable, typically on a large scale.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **强大 (qiángdà)** goes beyond simple physical strength. Think of it as "strong and big." It describes a comprehensive, substantial power—the kind possessed by a great nation, a leading tech company, a formidable army, or even a person with unbreakable willpower. It conveys a sense of scale, influence, and significance.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **强 (qiáng):** This character means "strong" or "powerful." Its radical is 弓 (gōng), meaning "bow." A strong bow requires great strength to draw, which is the core idea of this character.
  * **大 (dà):** This character is a pictogram of a person with their arms stretched wide, meaning "big," "large," or "great."
  * **Together (强大):** The combination of "strong" (强) and "big" (大) creates a word that means "mighty" or "formidable." It's a strength that is also grand in scale and influence.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, particularly in the modern era, **强大 (qiángdà)** is a word loaded with national aspiration. The concept of building a "powerful nation" (建设一个强大的国家 - jiànshè yīgè qiángdà de guójiā) is a cornerstone of public discourse and national identity. It refers to a comprehensive strength encompassing economic prosperity, technological innovation, military capability, and international influence.
This can be contrasted with the Western concept of "power," which can sometimes carry a negative connotation of domination or coercion ("power-hungry"). While **强大** can describe a powerful adversary, its aspirational use in China is overwhelmingly positive. It's seen as a prerequisite for national sovereignty, respect on the world stage, and achieving the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" (中华民族的伟大复兴 - Zhōnghuá mínzú de wěidà fùxīng). It's less about individual dominance and more about collective, systemic strength and resilience.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**强大 (qiángdà)** is a versatile adjective used in both formal and informal contexts, though it always carries a sense of significant scale.
  * **Countries and Economies:** This is its most common usage. It describes a nation's overall strength.
    * //"China's economy is very powerful."//
  * **Organizations and Companies:** It's used to describe the capability or influence of a large entity.
    * //"This tech company's R&D department is very formidable."//
  * **Abstract Concepts:** It can describe intangible forces like influence, logic, or a person's inner world.
    * //"She has a very strong heart/is mentally very strong."//
  * **Technology and Features:** It's frequently used to praise the capabilities of a product.
    * //"The new phone's camera function is incredibly powerful."//
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 中国是一个日益**强大**的国家。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngguó shì yīgè rìyì **qiángdà** de guójiā.
    * English: China is an increasingly powerful country.
    * Analysis: A very common and standard use of **强大** to describe a nation's growing influence and strength on the world stage.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 这个软件的功能非常**强大**，可以处理各种任务。
    * Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de gōngnéng fēicháng **qiángdà**, kěyǐ chǔlǐ gèzhǒng rènwù.
    * English: This software's functions are extremely powerful; it can handle all kinds of tasks.
    * Analysis: Highlights how **强大** is used in the tech world to mean "feature-rich" or "highly capable."
  * **Example 3:**
    * 面对困难，我们需要一颗**强大**的内心。
    * Pinyin: Miànduì kùnnán, wǒmen xūyào yī kē **qiángdà** de nèixīn.
    * English: When facing difficulties, we need a strong heart (to be mentally strong).
    * Analysis: This shows **强大** describing inner, psychological strength and resilience, a very common and important usage.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他们拥有一支**强大**的军队。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen yōngyǒu yī zhī **qiángdà** de jūnduì.
    * English: They possess a formidable army.
    * Analysis: A classic example of using **强大** to describe military might.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我们的对手很**强大**，但我们有信心赢。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de duìshǒu hěn **qiángdà**, dàn wǒmen yǒu xìnxīn yíng.
    * English: Our opponent is very strong, but we have the confidence to win.
    * Analysis: Here, **强大** describes a competitor or adversary, acknowledging their strength without implying negativity.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 科技公司的**强大**实力体现在其创新能力上。
    * Pinyin: Kējì gōngsī de **qiángdà** shílì tǐxiàn zài qí chuàngxīn nénglì shàng.
    * English: The powerful strength of a tech company is reflected in its innovation capability.
    * Analysis: Shows **强大** modifying another word for strength, **实力 (shílì)**, to emphasize its scale.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这部电影背后有**强大**的资本支持。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng bèihòu yǒu **qiángdà** de zīběn zhīchí.
    * English: This movie has strong financial backing.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates how **强大** can refer to financial power or resources.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 舆论的压力是**强大**的。
    * Pinyin: Yúlùn de yālì shì **qiángdà** de.
    * English: The pressure of public opinion is powerful.
    * Analysis: An example of **强大** describing an abstract force.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 他的逻辑非常**强大**，没人能反驳他。
    * Pinyin: Tā de luójí fēicháng **qiángdà**, méi rén néng fǎnbó tā.
    * English: His logic is very powerful; no one can refute him.
    * Analysis: Shows **强大** used to describe intellectual or argumentative force.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 一个国家想要**强大**起来，教育是关键。
    * Pinyin: Yīgè guójiā xiǎngyào **qiángdà** qǐlái, jiàoyù shì guānjiàn.
    * English: If a country wants to become strong, education is key.
    * Analysis: The structure **强大起来 (qiángdà qǐlái)** means "to become strong/powerful," functioning almost like a verb phrase.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **强大 (qiángdà) vs. 厉害 (lìhai):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    * **强大 (qiángdà):** More formal. Describes large-scale, substantive power. Use it for countries, armies, economies, a person's inner will, or a complex system's capability. You would say 中国很强大 (China is very powerful).
    * **厉害 (lìhai):** More colloquial. Means "awesome," "cool," "fierce," or "severe." Use it for a person's specific skill, the intensity of a storm, or a person's impressive ability. You would say 你好厉害! (You're so awesome!). You would //not// say "中国很厉害" to mean "China is a powerful country"; it sounds too casual and imprecise.
  * **Mistake: Using 强大 for physical strength.**
    * **Incorrect:** 他很**强大**。 (when you mean he has big muscles)
    * **Correct:** 他很**强壮** (tā hěn qiángzhuàng).
    * **Explanation:** **强壮 (qiángzhuàng)** means physically strong, robust, or sturdy. You use **强大** to describe a person only when referring to their influence, willpower, or overall capability (e.g., a powerful CEO), not their biceps.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[强壮]] (qiángzhuàng) - Physically strong, robust. Describes the strength of a body.
  * [[厉害]] (lìhai) - A colloquial term for "awesome," "fierce," or "severe." Describes a person's skill or the intensity of a situation.
  * [[实力]] (shílì) - "Actual strength" or "capability." A noun often used with 强大 (e.g., 实力强大 - to have powerful capabilities).
  * [[力量]] (lìliàng) - The noun for "strength," "power," or "force." You can have 强大的力量 (powerful strength).
  * [[强国]] (qiángguó) - A powerful nation, a superpower.
  * [[弱小]] (ruòxiǎo) - The direct antonym: "weak and small."
  * [[有力]] (yǒulì) - "Forceful" or "potent." Used for things like arguments, evidence, or a punch (e.g., 有力的证据 - powerful evidence). It's about direct, applied force.
  * [[强盛]] (qiángshèng) - "Powerful and prosperous." Often used to describe a nation or dynasty at its peak.