1.
forcibly; by force; compulsorily
Doing something against one's will or nature, or making someone do something unwillingly.
強いて参加する必要はない。
You don't need to force yourself to participate.
嫌がる人に強いて飲ませるのはよくない。
It's not right to force someone to drink when they don't want to.
自分の意見を他人に強いてはいけない。
You shouldn't force your opinions on others.
2.
if pressed; if I must say; dare I say
Used when offering an opinion reluctantly or when pressed to give an answer even though one doesn't have a strong opinion.
強いて言えば、赤より青のほうが好きかな。
If I had to say, I guess I like blue more than red.
強いて挙げるなら、時間が足りなかったことが問題だった。
If I had to point out something, the problem was that we didn't have enough time.
強いて選ぶなら、こっちのほうがいいかもしれない。
If I had to choose, this one might be better.
TWO MAIN USES:
1) FORCIBLY: Against one's will
- 強いて〜する (to do ~ by force)
- 強いて〜させる (to force someone to ~)
2) IF PRESSED: Reluctant opinion
- 強いて言えば (if I had to say)
- 強いて挙げれば/なら (if I had to pick/mention)
- 強いて選ぶなら (if I had to choose)
COMMON PATTERN:
強いて〜ば/なら is very common for hedging opinions:
- 強いて言えば、〜かな (If I had to say... maybe ~)
NUANCE:
In sense 2, 強いて signals that the speaker doesn't have a strong preference but is answering because asked. It's a polite way to give a lukewarm opinion without sounding too definitive.
ETYMOLOGY:
From the verb 強いる (to force, to compel) in て-form.