气力 (qì lì) — physical strength; energy; vigor

Definition

A literary-style word for physical strength or energy, usually tied to the effort of doing something strenuous. More formal and written than 力气 (the everyday equivalent), which you can use interchangeably in speech.

noun
physical strengthenergyvigor

Examples

  • 气力。
    Tā huā le hěn duō qì lì cái bǎ zhè kuài dà shí tou bān zǒu.
    He spent a lot of energy to move this big rock away.
  • ，气力。
    Nián jì dà le, qì lì bù rú cóng qián le.
    As I've gotten older, my strength is not what it used to be.
  • 气力。
    Tā yòng jìn quán shēn qì lì tuī kāi le nà shàn chén zhòng de mén.
    She pushed open that heavy door with all her might.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

气qìenergy
力lìstrength

Energy and strength together mean bodily 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.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

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

Open 气 →

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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