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得力 (dé lì) — capable, competent, efficient

Definition

Used for people (or their work) that are highly capable and get things done. Stronger than 能干 ('generally capable'); compare 高效, which describes results rather than the person.

adjective
capablecompetentefficient

Examples

  • 得力。
    Tā shì gōng sī zuì dé lì de jīng lǐ.
    He is the most capable manager in the company.
  • 得力。
    Zhè wèi xīn tóng shì bàn shì hěn dé lì.
    This new colleague works very efficiently.
  • 得力。
    Nǐ xū yào yí gè dé lì de zhù shǒu.
    You need a competent assistant.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

得déobtain; gain
力lìstrength; power

To 得 (obtain) 力 (strength) is to be capable.

Characters in this word

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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