adverbial N1 uncommon politewritten
強いて — forcibly
強いて ・ しいて
Meaning
- if forced to / if pressed / forcibly — doing what one wouldn't naturally do; esp. 強いて言えば 'if I had to say'
Key sentence
強いて言えば、青より赤のほうが好きだ。
If I had to say, I prefer red over blue.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before a verb; set phrases 強いて言えば／強いて挙げれば | 強いて + 動詞 |
Examples
嫌がる人に強いて勧める必要はない。
There's no need to press it on someone who doesn't want it.
不満は特にないが、強いて挙げれば値段だろうか。
I have no real complaints, but if I had to name one, it'd be the price.
Easily confused with
Notes
- 強いて言えば／強いて挙げれば are the set phrases for a reluctant, marginal choice.
See 強いて in real sentences
Jengo shows 強いて the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.