威慑力 (wēi shè lì) — deterrence, deterrent power

Definition

The power or effect of making an adversary afraid to act, through threat rather than direct force. Refers to a capability held by a country, military, or policy (e.g. 核威慑力, 经济制裁的威慑力).

noun
deterrencedeterrent power

Examples

  • 威慑力。
    Hé wǔ qì de wēi shè lì ràng gè guó bù gǎn qīng jǔ wàng dòng.
    The deterrent power of nuclear weapons makes countries hesitate to act rashly.
  • 威慑力。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de jūn shì wēi shè lì hěn qiáng.
    This country's military deterrence is very strong.
  • 威慑力。
    Jīng jì zhì cái yě yǒu yí dìng de wēi shè lì.
    Economic sanctions also have a certain deterrent effect.

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.

威慑intimidate by might
威wēimight慑shèintimidate
偏正Modifier + head
力lìpower

威 means might, 慑 means intimidate, and 力 means power, together describing deterrent power.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

威 is made by combining 戌 and 女.

Open 威 →

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 懾; 慑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè懾
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 懾 pairs 心 (heart) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 慑 is a later shorthand.

Open 慑 →

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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