Definitions
(noun)
power; strength; force
(noun)
ability
(adverb)
vigorously; strenuously
Etymology
Pictograph of a plow, which requires strength to operate.
About
The character "力" originates from an early pictographic form interpreted as a plow or a flexed arm, directly linking it to physical labor and exertion. Its structure, composed of just two strokes, is a streamlined representation of that original concept, and it functions as a semantic radical in numerous compounds conveying notions of strength or action. While its core meaning initially centered on concrete physical power, over time it expanded to encompass abstract applications such as mechanical force, personal effort, inherent capability, and even influential power, demonstrating a semantic shift from purely tangible strength to a wide range of dynamic concepts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我用力搬桌子。
他很有能力。
学习需要努力。
工作压力很大。
汽车动力不足。
政府大力支持教育。
我们必须尽力保护环境。
科学家努力研究新能源。