力 lì power
strength; power; ability
How it came to be
The head of a plough: the handle above, the blade below turning the earth. Effort is drawn as the tool it takes.
How it is used
- "Strength, power, force" - a suffix that turns a domain into an ability: 能力 (nénglì) capability, 听力 (tīnglì) listening ability, 体力 (tǐlì) physical stamina, 压力 (yālì) pressure.
- 力气 (lìqi, neutral tone) is concrete muscular strength (没力气 méi lìqi no energy) while 力量 (lìliàng) is more abstract force/power.
- 努力 (nǔlì) = to make effort, one of the most-used verbs: 努力学习 (nǔlì xuéxí) study hard. Watch 巧克力 (qiǎokèlì) chocolate, where 力 is purely phonetic.
Characters built with 力
- 边 side
- 男 male
- 为 for
- 动 move
- 别 don't do something
- 咖 coffee
- 加 to add
- 务 affairs
- 办 manage
- 历 experience
- 助 to help
- 努 try hard
- 功 achievement
- 另 other
- 伤 to injure
- 勇 brave
- 励 encourage
- 贺 congratulate
- 穷 poor
- 劝 to recommend
- 势 power
- 勤 diligent
- 协 to assist
- 嘉 excellent
- 幼 infant
- 架 measure word for planes and large machines
- 胁 to threaten
- 茄 eggplant
- 雾 fog
- 驾 to drive
- 劣 low-quality
- 劲 strong
- 勉 to endeavor
- 抛 to abandon
- 拐 to kidnap
- 甥 niece
- 舅 mother's brother
- 伪 false
- 劫 to take by force
- 勃 thriving
Words with 力
- 努力nǔlìmake great effortHSK 3
- 能力nénglìcapabilityHSK 4
- 压力yālìpressureHSK 4
- 巧克力qiǎokèlìchocolateHSK 4
- 力气lìqiphysical strengthHSK 4
- 听力tīnglìhearingHSK 4
- 人力rénlìmanpowerHSK 5
- 体力tǐlìphysical strengthHSK 5
- 全力quánlìwith all one's strengthHSK 5
- 力量lìliàngpowerHSK 5
- 大力dàlìenergeticallyHSK 5
- 实力shílìstrengthHSK 5
- 尽力jìnlìto strive one's hardestHSK 5
- 有力yǒulìpowerfulHSK 5
- 用力yònglìto exert oneself physicallyHSK 5
- 精力jīnglìenergyHSK 5
- 魅力mèilìcharmHSK 5
- 出力chūlìto exert oneselfHSK 6
- 力度lìdùstrengthHSK 6
- 动力dònglìmotive powerHSK 6
- 劳动力láodònglìlabor forceHSK 6
- 势力shìlìpowerHSK 6
- 智力zhìlìintelligenceHSK 6
- 暴力bàolìviolenceHSK 6
- 权力quánlìpowerHSK 6
- 活力huólìenergyHSK 6
- 潜力qiánlìpotentialHSK 6
- 生命力shēngmìnglìvitalityHSK 6
- 电力diànlìelectrical powerHSK 6
- 视力shìlìeyesightHSK 6
- 风力fēnglìwind forceHSK 6
- 不力búlìnot to do one's bestHSK 7
- 主力zhǔlìmain forceHSK 7
- 亲和力qīnhélìwarmthHSK 7
- 力不从心lìbùcóngxīnto lack the ability to do what one would wishHSK 7
- 力争lìzhēngto work hard forHSK 7
- 力所能及lìsuǒnéngjías far as one's capabilities extend (idiom)HSK 7
- 力求lìqiúto make every effort toHSK 7
- 功力gōnglìmeritHSK 7
- 助力zhùlìto helpHSK 7
Example sentences
- 是谁发现了万有引力？ Shì shéi fāxiànle wànyǒu yǐnlì?Who discovered universal gravitation?
- 他很有力气。 Tā hěn yǒu lìqi.He's really strong.
- 我们共同努力吧。 Wǒmen gòngtóng nǔlì ba.Let's make a joint effort.
- 他们每个人都很努力。 Tāmen měi gè rén dōu hěn nǔlì.Each of them works very hard.