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魅力 (mèi lì) — charm, charisma, glamour

Definition

魅力 is the lasting charm or appeal of a person, thing, or idea — broader than 风趣 (only about witty speech) and more personal than 亲和力 (warmth toward others).

noun
charmcharismaglamour

Examples

  • 魅力。
    Tā yǒu yì zhǒng tè bié de mèi lì.
    She has a special kind of charm.
  • 魅力。
    Zhè ge diàn yǐng de mèi lì shì tā de gù shi.
    The charm of this movie is its story.
  • 魅力。
    Dà zì rán de mèi lì ràng rén gǎn dào píng jìng.
    The charm of nature makes people feel calm.

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.

魅mèicharm
力lìpower

魅力 joins charm with power, so it names the force that draws and fascinates people.

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
鬼鬼guǐspirit
Sound part声符shēngfú
未
未wèi魅mèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

魅 is built from 鬼, a spirit, and 未, which gives the character its sound.

Open 魅 →

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 →
Appears in
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