通力 (tōng lì) — concerted effort

Definition

通力 is a formal/written term meaning 'to pool all one's strength' in a joint effort. Almost always used with verbs like 合作 or 配合 to describe people working together with full force.

noun
concerted effort

Examples

  • ，。
    Dà jiā tōng lì hé zuò, wán chéng le rèn wu.
    Everyone worked in concert and completed the task.
  • 通力。
    Xiàng mù xū yào gè bù mén tōng lì pèi hé.
    The project requires concerted cooperation from all departments.
  • 通力，。
    Tā men tōng lì gōng guān, jiě jué le jì shù nán tí.
    They made a concerted effort to solve the technical problem.

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.

通tōngjointly
力lìstrength

通 (jointly) and 力 (strength) give effort put together.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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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