もっと強く
motto tsuyoku
In Japanese, the phrase for "harder" is もっと強く (motto tsuyoku).
もっと強く is used to describe applying more physical strength or force to an action.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of もっと (more) and tsuyoku (the adverbial form of tsuyoi, meaning strong).
Which one should you use?
もっと強く refers specifically to physical force or strength. If you want to describe an action that is more intense or violent, you would use もっと激しく instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tsuyoku is the adverbial form of the adjective tsuyoi. This adverbial form is required to modify a verb to indicate that an action is being done strongly or harder.
How do you pronounce it?
motto tsuyoku
When do people say it?
You can add the adverb ますます before phrases to indicate that a level of difficulty is increasing over time.
Did you know?
- If you want to say something is 'hard' as in a solid surface, you would use 硬い, which is a completely different word from 強い used for force.
- The word 強く (tsuyoku) can also be used metaphorically in Japanese to mean 'strongly' in the sense of conviction, such as 'to believe strongly'.
- In Japanese calligraphy, the pressure applied to the brush is described using 強い to indicate a 'harder' or heavier stroke.
Examples in context
- 日本語の文法はもっと難しいです。Japanese grammar is more difficult.
- この問題はさらに困難なので、よく考えて解いてください。Please think carefully and solve this problem, as it is even more difficult.
- このテストはより厳しい基準で採点されます。This test will be graded based on stricter criteria.
- このビデオゲーム、もっと難しいバージョンもあるよ。This video game has a more difficult version too!
- もっとキツいトレーニングをしよう！Let's do a tougher workout!
- 漢字の勉強がますます難しくなってきました。Studying kanji has gradually become more difficult.
- もっと強く押してください。motto tsuyoku oshite kudasai.Please push harder.
- もっと強く叩いてください。motto tsuyoku tataite kudasai.Please strike it harder.
- もっと強く握ってください。motto tsuyoku nigitte kudasai.Please grip it harder.
Example conversation
A woman is trying to open a stuck jar for her friend.
- 陽葵 Himariこの瓶、全然開きません。kono bin, zenzen akimasen.I can't open this jar at all.
- 大翔 Hirotoもっと強く回してみて。motto tsuyoku mawashite mite.Try turning it harder.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、開きました！a, akimashita!Ah, it opened!
- 大翔 Hirotoよかったね。yokatta ne.That's good.
