软实力 ruǎnshílì soft power (in international relations)
How to remember 软实力: 软 soft + 实 real + 力 power = soft power (in international relations).
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How it is used
- Soft power - influence through culture, values, and appeal rather than force - 提升国家软实力 (tíshēng guójiā ruǎnshílì) to boost the country's soft power.
- A political-science loan concept, used of nations, cities, even companies (文化软实力 cultural soft power).
- Explicitly contrasts with 硬实力 (yìngshílì, hard power: military/economic muscle); the pair is standard in policy discussion.