強い

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 彼はとても強いです。▶ —
   He is very strong.
2. 日本語が強い人です。▶ —
   A person strong in Japanese.

Collocations

Mnemonic

つよい — 強い, Yamato. An i-adjective. The opposite of 弱い yowai. One word stretches wide ── bodily strength, skill, wind, drink ── 力が強い (physically strong), 日本語が強い (good at Japanese), お酒が強い (holds liquor well), 風が強い (strong wind). In the onyomi きょう kyou ── 強力 kyouryoku (powerful), 最強 saikyou (strongest), 勉強 benkyou (study). The etymology of 勉強 is telling ── 勉 (to exert) + 強 (by force) = 'to exert by force'. The old kanji saw study as compelled effort. The Korean reading gang is sister to the onyomi きょう.

Quick check

1. "Hold liquor well" idiom in Japanese?

   • お酒が強い o-sake ga tsuyoi (idiom)
   • お酒を飲める (= can drink alcohol)
   • お酒が好き (= like alcohol)
   • 酔っ払わない (= don't get drunk, partial)