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主力 (zhǔ lì) — main force; main strength (of a team, army, or organization)

Definition

The 'main force' or core group that carries the heaviest load in a team, army, or organization. Less about leadership than 领袖 — it emphasizes the dominant contributing mass, not the individual in charge.

noun
main forcemain strength (of a team, army, or organization)
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 主力。
    Tā shì wǒ men qiú duì de zhǔ lì.
    He is the main force of our team.
  • 主力。
    Zhè cì rèn wu de zhǔ lì shì nián qīng rén.
    The main force for this mission is young people.
  • 主力。
    Gōng sī de zhǔ lì yuán gōng dōu hěn nǔ lì.
    The company's main employees are all very hardworking.

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.

主zhǔmain
力lìforce

主 means main and 力 means force, so 主力 names the main force.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Groups & Organizations

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