How to say "strong" in Japanese

• 強いつよいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe all-purpose adjective for 'strong': a strong person or team, potent medicine, or someone competent — it can even suggest a domineering character. When you simply mean 'strong', this is the word.
• 強力きょうりょくJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounA na-adjective describing things whose power or effect is great — powerful medicine, strong backing. It is not the plain adjective for a strong person; think of it as 'powerful' rather than 'strong'.
  日本にっぽんの軍隊ぐんたいは非常ひじょうに強力きょうりょくだった。↗

  Japan's army was very powerful.
• 濃厚のうこうCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'strong' only for sensory qualities: a strong odor, rich flavor or color, thick soup or makeup. Never use it for strong people, teams, or physical strength.
  味あじも濃厚のうこうで、炒め物いためもの、スープなど中華ちゅうか料理りょうりに深ふかみを与あたえます。↗

  It also has a strong flavour, and adds depth to Chinese food such as soups and stir-fries.
• 強烈きょうれつJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounFor 'strong' meaning intense or severe: an overwhelming impact, a striking impression, a forceful personality. Use it when the strength hits you with real force, not for ordinary physical strength.
  彼かれの返報へんぽうは鼻はなへの強烈きょうれつなパンチだった。↗

  His answer was a hard punch on the nose.
• 力強いちからづよいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveDescribes forceful, vigorous strength you can see or feel: a powerful grip, a firm handshake, vigorous strokes, a strong performance. It paints strength as active and energetic rather than mere potency.
  踊り子おどりこ達たちは白しろいドレスを着きてきゃしゃに見みえますが、実際じっさいには彼女かのじょたちは馬うまのように力強ちからづよいのです。↗

  The dancers look delicate in their white dresses, but they are really as strong as horses.

Use 「強い」 as the all-purpose adjective for strong people, teams, or potent things; 強力 for powerful force or effect; 濃厚 only for strong flavors, aromas, and colors; 強烈 for overwhelming intensity; 「力強い」 for forceful, vigorous movement or manner.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 強いつよいstrong
• 強力きょうりょくpowerful
• 濃厚のうこうrich (flavor, color, etc.)
• 強烈きょうれつstrong
• 力強いちからづよいpowerful
• 丈夫じょうぶhealthy
• 強固きょうこfirm
• たくましいburly
• 強大きょうだいpowerful
• 強硬きょうこうfirm
• 強靭きょうじんtough
• 堅固けんごsolid
• 強気つよきconfident
• 頑丈がんじょうsolid
• 厳重げんじゅうstrict
• 猛烈もうれつfierce
• 達者たっしゃin good health
• 濃密のうみつdense
• 屈強くっきょうrobust
• 強壮きょうそうable-bodied
• ストロングstrong
• 手強いてづよいstrong
• つよつよstrong
• びんびんhard (e.g. penis)
• 堅牢けんろうsolid
• 強健きょうけんrobust (health)
• 頑健がんけんrobust
• 堅強けんきょうrobust
• こぴっとproperly
• 芬々ふんぷん(of a smell, esp. a good smell) strong
• 硬いかたいstrong
• きついstrong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol)
• 濃いこいstrong (flavour, smell, etc.)
• ひどいviolent
• 強度きょうどstrong (e.g. glasses)
• 有力ゆうりょくstrong
• 堅調けんちょうstrong (sales, economy, etc.)
• くどいheavy (taste)
• 激しいはげしいextreme
• 高度こうどhigh-degree
• 盛んさかんactive
• 頑強がんきょうtough
• 濃ゆいこゆいstrong (flavour, smell, etc.)
• 陣々じんじんstrong (wind)
• しきりgreat
• 究竟くっきょうrobust
• 深いふかいintense