壮实
zhuàng shi · HSK 7
robust
💪 壮 zhuàng = strong/robust + 实 shí = solid/substantial → solidly strong, sturdy
壮 carries the 士 'warrior' radical (strength); 实 means solid or substantial. Together: solidly built, robust. Sound cue: zhuàng rhymes with the thud of a strong, heavy thing landing.
壮 — 爿 (bed/plank, phonetic) + 士 (scholar/warrior)
A semantic-phonetic compound. 士 ('warrior, man') gives the meaning of strength and vigor, while 爿 ('plank, bed') supplies the sound. Originally describing a robust, sturdy man, it broadened to mean 'strong, robust, magnificent' in general.