活力 (huó lì) — vitality, energy, vigor | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

活力 means the lively energy or vigor of people, places, or activities — broader and more abstract than 精力 (personal stamina) or 干劲 (work drive).

noun

vitalityenergyvigor

Examples

活力。
Zhè ge chéng shì chōng mǎn le huó lì.
This city is full of vitality.
，活力。
Tā měi tiān yùn dòng, suǒ yǐ hěn yǒu huó lì.
He exercises every day, so he is full of energy.
活力。
Nián qīng rén yīng gāi bǎo chí huó lì.
Young people should maintain their vigor.

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.

“活” suggests living and “力” suggests force, together giving vitality.

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

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠯑

𠯑𠯑活huó

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

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.

Appears in

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