adjective HSK 5
Traditional 頑強
wán qiáng
tenacious · indomitable · stubborn · unyielding

Meaning

顽强 describes a quality of extreme persistence and determination, often in the face of difficulty or opposition. It emphasizes refusing to give up despite challenging circumstances. While usually positive (describing admirable resilience), it can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation of excessive stubbornness.

Usage

Commonly used to describe people's willpower, fighting spirit, or life force. Frequently appears in contexts of struggle, competition, or survival. Often paired with words like 拼搏 (to struggle hard) or 生命力 (vitality). Can describe both people and abstract qualities like spirit or resistance.

Examples

  1. 01
    他凭借顽强的意志克服了重重困难。
    píng jiè wán qiáng de zhì le chóng chóng kùn nán.
    He overcame numerous difficulties through his indomitable will.
  2. 02
    这支球队表现出了顽强的战斗精神。
    Zhè zhī qiú duì biǎo xiàn chū le wán qiáng de zhàn dòu jīng shén.
    This team displayed a tenacious fighting spirit.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 顽强拼搏
    wán qiáng pīn
    to struggle tenaciously
  • 顽强的意志
    wán qiáng de zhì
    indomitable will
  • 顽强抵抗
    wán qiáng kàng
    to resist tenaciously
  • 顽强的生命力
    wán qiáng de shēng mìng
    tenacious vitality

Antonyms

Origin

顽 originally meant stubborn or obstinate, while 强 means strong. Together they create a word meaning stubbornly strong or persistently powerful, emphasizing strength that refuses to yield.

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