驱动力 (qū dòng lì) — driving force

Definition

noun
driving force

Examples

  • 驱动力。
    Chuàng xīn shì jīng jì fā zhǎn de zhǔ yào qū dòng lì.
    Innovation is the main driving force of economic development.
  • 驱动力。
    Shì chǎng xū qiú shì jì shù jìn bù de qiáng dà qū dòng lì.
    Market demand is a powerful driving force for technological progress.
  • 驱动力。
    Nèi zài dòng jī bǐ wài zài jiǎng lì gèng néng chéng wéi chí xù xué xí de qū dòng lì.
    Intrinsic motivation can become a driving force for continuous learning more than external rewards.

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.

驱动drive
驱qūdrive动dòngmove
联合Side by side
力lìforce

“驱” and “动” together mean drive, and “力” is force, so the force that drives something.

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 驅; 驱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
區
區qū驅qū
Same sound today

The traditional form 驅 pairs 馬 (horse) with 區 as a sound part; simplified 驱 is a later shorthand.

Open 驱 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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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