力气 (lì qi) — strength; physical power | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

力气 is everyday 'physical strength' — used for everyday effort like lifting or walking, more colloquial than the more abstract 力量.

noun

strengthphysical power

Measure word · 把

力气。
Tā huā le hěn duō lì qi cái bān dòng nà ge xiāng zi.
He used a lot of strength to move that box.
，力气。
Tā suī rán shòu, dàn lì qi hěn dà.
Although she is thin, she has great strength.
力气，。
Wǒ shí zài méi yǒu lì qi zài zǒu le, xiū xi yí xià ba.
I really have no strength to walk anymore; let's rest a bit.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

力lìstrength

气qìbreath; energy

力 and 气 both relate to bodily power, together meaning strength.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in