勉强

勉強

miǎnqiǎng

adjective HSK 7-9 #6,122

Meanings

1 reluctant; forced; grudging
2 barely adequate; just passable
3 to force; to compel (someone to do something)

Characters

to make an effort; to encourage

to force; to compel

Literally 'effort by force' — doing something with difficulty or under pressure, not willingly.

Examples

他勉强笑了笑。

Tā miǎnqiǎng xiào le xiào.

He forced a smile.

不要勉强自己。

Bùyào miǎnqiǎng zìjǐ.

Don't force yourself.

这次考试我勉强及格了。

Zhècì kǎoshì wǒ miǎnqiǎng jígé le.

I barely passed this exam.

Tips

mistakes

Note the unusual pronunciation: 强 here is read qiǎng (3rd tone), not qiáng (2nd tone) as in 强大 (qiángdà, 'powerful'). When 强 means 'to force/compel,' it's always qiǎng.

Stroke Order

勉 miǎn

强 qiáng