剛

Core sense is hardness defined as resistance to bending; denotes rigidity, toughness, or structural integrity rather than sheer hardness (such as stone) or power.

• Physical: Rigid, stiff, unyielding; used for materials that resist warping or breaking under pressure.
• Moral/Psychological: Sternness, courage, integrity, or obstinacy. Context determines if the sense is positive ("incorruptible") or negative ("brittle" or "arrogant").

Operates as both an adjective (e.g., "stern," "uncompromising") and a noun ("rigidity," "strength").

• 剛 (gāng) vs. 強 (qiáng): While both translate as "strong," 強 generally refers to power, dominance, or the capacity to overcome an opponent; 剛 refers to internal resistance and the ability to withstand pressure without yielding.
• Contrast: Frequently functions as the polar opposite of 柔 (róu, soft/yielding).

• Temporal usage: The adverbial use meaning "just," "barely," or "only" is characteristic of later Classical Chinese and the vernacular; it is rarely used as a temporal marker in pre-Han texts.
• Variants: U+201DD (KangXi) and U+521A (Simplified).

When describing character, "uncompromising" or "stern" often captures the nuance more accurately than a generic translation of "strong."