加力 (jiā lì) — to apply extra force; to boost power

Definition

加力 (jiā lì) means to add or apply extra force, often to a machine, engine, or effort. A separable verb — split it for an object: 给引擎加一把力.

verb
to apply extra forceto boost power
Easily confused

Examples

  • 加力。
    Yǐn qíng xū yào jiā lì cái néng pá shàng zhè ge dǒu pō.
    The engine needs to apply extra force to climb this steep slope.
  • ，加力。
    Tā yòng lì xiàng xià yì tuī, jiā lì ràng mén guān jǐn.
    He pushed down hard, applying extra force to close the door tight.
  • ，加力。
    Sī jī cǎi xià yóu mén, gěi chē zi jiā lì.
    The driver stepped on the gas, giving the car an extra boost of power.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

加jiāadd
力lìforce

“加” means to add and “力” means force, so the sense is to add force or boost power.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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.

Open 力 →

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