強い
tsuyoi
Wind, medicine, willpower — 強い is force that doesn't give
The picture Force enough to push the other side back, or to stand firm while being pushed. 強い stands firm however hard you push; 弱い gives way at the first push.
Where the picture shows up in 強い
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a person's force
田中さんは力が強いです。
Tanaka-san wa chikara ga tsuyoi desu
Tanaka is strong.
One pair of arms lifting the box that took two people before
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nature's force
今日は風が強いですね。
kyō wa kaze ga tsuyoi desu ne
The wind is strong today.
A shop sign swinging and an umbrella turning inside out
Wind, rain and sunlight are all described with 強い.
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potency
この薬は少し強いです。
kono kusuri wa sukoshi tsuyoi desu
This medicine is a bit strong.
One tablet, and your eyelids go heavy within minutes
Strong drink is この酒は強い too.
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holding against a push
この生地は水に強いです。
kono kiji wa mizu ni tsuyoi desu
This fabric is water-resistant.
Water poured on cloth beading up and rolling off instead of soaking in
〜に強い = holds up well against something.
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the mind holding
彼女は意志が強いです。
kanojo wa ishi ga tsuyoi desu
She has a strong will.
Standing without giving a single step while everyone around talks you out of it
All of it in one picture
強い is one picture: force. Put that force in someone's arms and they lift what took two people; put it in the wind and the shop sign swings; put it in medicine and one tablet reaches you all at once. When the push comes from outside and the cloth holds, it is strong against water; when the mind holds, the will is strong. Whether the force is in the pushing or in the holding, the word is the same.