伟力 (wěi lì) — mighty force

Definition

Literary, written-style noun for an immense or awe-inspiring force. Stronger and more elevated than the everyday 力量, and fits grand, abstract subjects (nature, the masses, unity) rather than physical strength of a person.

noun
mighty force

Examples

  • 伟力。
    Dà zì rán wěi lì lìng rén jìng wèi.
    The mighty force of nature is awe-inspiring.
  • 伟力。
    Qún zhòng de wěi lì bù kě hū shì.
    The mighty force of the masses cannot be ignored.
  • 伟力。
    Tuán jié néng níng jù jù dà de wěi lì.
    Unity can gather tremendous mighty force.

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.

伟wěigreat or mighty
力lìforce

伟力 joins 伟 (great or mighty) with 力 (force), meaning mighty force.

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 偉; 伟 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi偉wěi
Same sound today

The traditional form 偉 combines 亻, a person, with 韋, which gives the sound. The simplified 伟 is a later shorthand.

Open 伟 →

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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