实力派 (shí lì pā) — those who hold actual power or influence (in politics, business); (in entertainment/sports) a person whose success is based on real talent or ability, not image

Definition

A 'powerhouse' — someone whose success rests on real ability, not image or talk. Common in entertainment and politics, contrasted with 偶像派 (idol, image-driven).

noun
those who hold actual power or influence (in politics, business)(in entertainment/sports) a person whose success is based on real talent or ability, not image

Examples

  • 实力派，。
    Zhè wèi yǎn yuán shì shí lì pā, yǎn jì fēi cháng hǎo.
    This actor is a true talent — his acting is excellent.
  • ，实力派。
    Zài zhèng tán shàng, shí lì pā wǎng wǎng bǐ kōng tán jiā gèng yǒu yǐng xiǎng lì.
    In politics, those who actually hold power are often more influential than empty talkers.
  • ，实力派。
    Tā suī rán shì xīn rén, dàn yǐ jīng shì gē tán de shí lì pā le.
    Although he's a newcomer, he's already a powerhouse in the music scene.

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.

实力real strength
实shíreal力lìstrength
偏正Modifier + head
派pàifaction

实力 means real strength and 派 means faction, so together they name a faction based on real strength.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

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 →

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
水水shuǐwater; river
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂢
𠂢𠂢派pài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

派 is built from 水 (water/river) and 𠂢. 𠂢 gives the sound, and 水 was added later to tell the character apart from the older form.

Open 派 →

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