strong

Compared meaning: physically strong or muscular (adjective).

比较义项：强壮、肌肉发达（adj.）。

• strong 本词

  The general, neutral word for physical power; can describe any body part or the whole body without implying a bulky build or defined muscles.

  表示“强壮”的通用中性词，可形容身体的任何部位或整个身体，不一定意味着体型健硕或肌肉发达。

  A strong farmer easily lifted the heavy sacks of grain onto the truck.

  一位强壮的农民轻松地把沉重的粮食袋抬上了卡车。

• hefty

  Informal; describes a person as big, heavy-set and strong, emphasizing bulk and weight rather than muscle definition.

  非正式用语，形容人体型高大、健壮有力，强调体重和体格的“分量感”，而非肌肉线条。

  The hefty bouncer could lift heavy barrels without much effort.

  那个身材魁梧的保镖不费什么力气就能扛起沉重的木桶。

• muscular

  Highlights visible, well-developed muscles built through exercise; focuses on physique appearance rather than raw strength or size.

  特指经过锻炼而形成的、清晰可见的发达肌肉，强调体格外观上的肌肉线条，而非笼统的力气大小。

  Every day after training, the muscular gymnast showed off his toned arms.

  每天训练后，这位肌肉发达的体操运动员都会展示他结实的手臂。

All three describe physical strength. Strong is the general word for physical power, in any body part. Hefty is informal, describing someone big and strong. Muscular highlights visible muscles built by exercise. Not compared: strong meaning firm belief, and hefty meaning a huge fee.

这三个词都可形容身体强壮，但侧重不同：strong泛指力气大，可用于任何身体部位或物体；hefty强调体型高大、有分量的健壮感，语气偏口语化；muscular强调经锻炼而来的、线条分明的肌肉。这里不比较strong表示“信念坚定的”或“味道浓烈的”等义项，也不比较hefty表示“数额巨大的（如费用、罚款）”的义项。

Compared meaning: strong and solidly built (adjective).

比较义项：坚固、结实（形容词）。

• strong 本词

  The common, everyday word for firm and durable; it applies to objects, materials or hardware of any size and carries no special formality.

  strong 是最常用、口语化的词，用来形容坚固耐用；可以形容任何大小的物体、材料或五金件，没有特别的正式语气。

  The shelf needs strong brackets so it won't collapse under the weight of books.

  这个搁板需要坚固的支架，才不会在书本的重压下垮掉。

• substantial

  A more formal, literary word implying large, heavy and solidly made construction; typically describes furniture, buildings or walls rather than small hardware.

  substantial 是更正式、书面化的词，强调体积大、用料厚重、结构扎实；通常用来形容家具、建筑或墙壁，而不是小件的五金件。

  The old farmhouse table is substantial, carved from a single block of solid oak.

  这张老式农舍餐桌很结实，是用一整块实心橡木雕刻而成的。

Both words describe something firm and durable. Strong is the common, everyday word for objects or materials of any size. Substantial is more formal, suggesting large, heavy, solidly made things like furniture or buildings. Not compared: substantial meaning a large amount, as in substantial progress.

strong 和 substantial 在这个意义上都可以形容物体坚固耐用，但语气和使用场合不同：strong 是最常用的口语词，可以形容任何大小的物体或材料；substantial 更正式、书面化，强调物体体积大、用料厚实、做工扎实，多用于建筑、家具等大件物品。此处不比较 substantial 表示“数量可观的、大量的”的义项（如 substantial progress）。

Compared meaning: very strong in degree (adjective).

比较义项：强烈的，程度非常高（形容词）。

• intense

  Emphasizes how strongly something is felt or experienced, especially heat, emotion, pain, or effort; neutral in tone, often used for gradually building feelings, and slightly more formal than strong.

  强调某事物被感受或经历的程度极高，尤其用于热度、情绪、疼痛或努力；语气中性，常用于逐渐增强的感受，比 strong 更正式一些。

  Her fear of spiders is so intense that she can't even look at a picture of one.

  她对蜘蛛的恐惧非常强烈，甚至连图片都不敢看。

• strong 本词

  The most general and neutral of the three; used for physical or abstract force such as smell, wind, coffee, or opinions, without implying danger or extremity.

  三者中最通用、语气最中性的词；用于形容气味、风、咖啡或观点等具体或抽象的力量，不含危险或极端的意味。

  This coffee is too strong for me; could you add a little more water?

  这杯咖啡对我来说太浓了，能不能多加点水？

• violent

  Implies force so extreme that it becomes destructive, dangerous, or sudden and uncontrolled, often describing weather, reactions, or changes rather than steady feelings.

  指力量极端到具有破坏性、危险性或突然失控，常用于描述天气、反应或变化，而不是持续稳定的感受。

  The storm turned violent, knocking down trees across the town.

  暴风雨变得猛烈起来，把镇上的树木都刮倒了。

All three mean very strong in degree. Intense stresses strong feelings, like heat or emotion. Strong is the most neutral, used for smell, wind, or opinions. Violent implies force so extreme it becomes destructive or dangerous, as in weather. Not compared: strong meaning physically fit.

这三个词都表示程度很高、强烈，但语气和适用范围不同：violent 语气最强，强调具有破坏性或失控的力量；strong 语气最中性、用法最广；intense 强调感受或体验上的强烈程度。这里不比较 strong 的“身体强壮的”词义，也不比较 violent 的“使用暴力伤害他人的”词义。