力 (lì) — power, force, strength; ability, capability; (suffix) -power, -force, -ability (as in 动力, 压力, 能力)
Definition
A short bound form: alone it means physical force/strength; as a suffix it attaches to roots to name kinds of power — 能力, 体力, 实力, 力量 all use 力 for the 'strength/ability' half. Use the compound for the specific sense you mean.
noun
powerforcestrengthabilitycapability
suffix
-power-force-ability (as in 动力, 压力, 能力)
Examples
- ，。Tā hěn yǒu lì qi, yí gè rén néng bān dòng zhè zhāng zhuō zi.He is very strong and can move this table by himself.
- 。Zhè jiàn shì xū yào dà jiā yì qǐ chū lì.This matter requires everyone to contribute their effort together.
- ，。Jīn tiān de fēng lì hěn dà, chū mén yào xiǎo xīn.The wind force is strong today, so be careful going out.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA 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.
Appears in
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