感召力 (gǎn zhào lì) — charisma; the power to inspire and mobilize others

Definition

Refers to a personal quality — the ability to move and inspire others to follow or act. A higher register term than everyday '魅力', often used for leaders, speakers, or causes.

noun
charismathe power to inspire and mobilize others

Examples

  • 感召力。
    Zhè wèi lǐng xiù de gǎn zhào lì ràng wú shù rén zhuī suí tā.
    This leader's charisma made countless people follow him.
  • 感召力，。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng chōng mǎn le gǎn zhào lì, tīng zhòng dōu bèi dǎ dòng le.
    His speech was full of charisma; the audience was moved.
  • 感召力。
    Yí gè chéng gōng de lǐng dǎo zhě xū yào jù bèi qiáng dà de gǎn zhào lì.
    A successful leader needs to possess strong charisma.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

感召inspire
感gǎnmove/influence召zhàosummon
联合Side by side
力lìpower

感 and 召 together mean to move and summon, and 力 adds the sense of power.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo召zhào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 召 pairs 口 (mouth), for calling out, with 刀 (knife), which supplies the sound; it originally meant to call out or serve wine.

Open 召 →

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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