Definitions

(noun) soul; spirit (the mortal soul attached to the body)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 魄 uses the radical 鬼 (ghost/spirit) on the left to place it within the semantic domain of spirits and non-physical essence. The component 白 (white) on the right primarily provides the phonetic value. In traditional thought, 魄 specifically refers to the corporeal soul, the physical aspect of a person's being, as opposed to the ethereal 魂 (hún). Its meaning has also expanded to encompass notions of vigor, courage, and even the dim phase of the moon, extending from the spiritual to describe vital energy and inner fortitude.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他做事很有力。

Tā zuò shì hěn yǒu pò lì.

He handles things with great boldness.

这个计划需要力。

Zhè gè jì huà xū yào pò lì.

This plan requires boldness.

她的力让人佩服。

Tā de pò lì ràng rén pèi fú.

Her boldness is admirable.

强壮的体是健康的基础。

Qiáng zhuàng de tǐ pò shì jiàn kāng de jī chǔ.

A strong physique is the foundation of health.

他的魂似乎离开了身体。

Tā de hún pò sì hū lí kāi le shēn tǐ.

His soul seems to have left his body.

他的领导力赢得了团队的信任。

Tā de lǐng dǎo pò lì yíng dé le tuán duì de xìn rèn.

His leadership boldness won the team's trust.

在危机中展现力是领导者的关键素质。

Zài wēi jī zhōng zhǎn xiàn pò lì shì lǐng dǎo zhě de guān jiàn sù zhì.

Showing boldness in a crisis is a key quality of a leader.

古代哲学认为魂是人的精神本质。

Gǔ dài zhé xué rèn wéi hún pò shì rén de jīng shén běn zhì.

Ancient philosophy believes that the soul is the spiritual essence of a person.