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.
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.
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.