法力 (fǎ lì) — supernatural power (often from Buddhist cultivation or general magic/mystical ability)

Definition

Refers to magical or supernatural power, usually gained through Buddhist cultivation or Daoist/spiritual practice. Distinct from 魔法 (wizardry/sorcery, from Western fantasy) and 功夫 (physical martial skill).

noun
supernatural power (often from Buddhist cultivation or general magic/mystical ability)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 法力，。
    Nà wèi gāo sēng de fǎ lì fēi cháng qiáng dà, néng xiáng yāo chú mó.
    That eminent monk's supernatural power is extremely strong; he can subdue demons and eradicate evil.
  • ，法力。
    Xiū liàn qiān nián hòu, tā zhōng yú zhǎng wò le qiáng dà de fǎ lì.
    After a thousand years of cultivation, it finally mastered powerful supernatural power.
  • 法力。
    Yóu xì zhōng fǎ shù de xiāo hào qǔ jué yú fǎ lì shàng xiàn.
    In games, spell consumption depends on the mana cap.

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.

法fǎdharma
力lìpower

法 points to Buddhist teaching or law, and 力 is the power that comes from it.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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
Mythology & Folklore

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