強【きょう】

The suffix 強 (きょう) is attached to numbers and quantities to mean "just over," "a little more than," or "and change." It indicates that the actual amount slightly exceeds the stated number. It is the opposite of じゃく弱 (じゃく), which means "just under" or "a little less than."

強 is used with counters for time, money, distance, weight, percentages, and other measurable quantities.

Usage notes

強 attaches directly after the number (and its counter, if present). It functions like a suffix modifying the preceding numerical expression.

It is frequently seen in news reports, business contexts, and written language when giving approximate figures. In casual speech, people may prefer expressions like ちょっと おうばあover or きごう〜いじょう以上, but 強 is concise and commonly understood.

強 does not indicate a large excess – it implies the amount is only slightly above the stated figure. If the excess were significant, a different expression would be used.

強 vs. 弱

• 1時間強 = a little over one hour (e.g., 1 hour and 5–10 minutes)
• 1時間弱 = a little under one hour (e.g., 50–55 minutes)