力
부수: 力
획수: 2획
力 has the meanings of ‘strength’, ‘power’, ‘force’ and ‘ability’.
力 = 力
X = semantic
• 力 likely originally depicted a plough and from this comes the meanings ‘strength’, ‘force’ and ‘ability’.
Contrary to this interpretation, some scholars interpret the historical forms as depicting an arm and hand.
Evolution:
力 = ’a plough’ ➔ ’strength’ ➔ ’force’
力 = ’a plough’ ➔ ’strength’ ➔ ’ability’
Mnemonic
Looking at the historical forms, 力 is the end of a plough with the handle missing. Imagine the head of a shovel making contact with the dirt. It takes a lot of strength to work in the fields all day.
Vocab
| 勞力 | 노력 | endeavor; exertion; labour |
| 强力 | 강력 | strong; powerful |
| 權力 | 권력 | power; authority |
| 體力 | 체력 | physical strength |
| 暴力 | 폭력 | violence |
| 武力 | 무력 | military force |
| 重力 | 중력 | gravity |
| 壓力 | 압력 | pressure |
| 入力 | 입력 | entry; input (data) |
| 能力 | 능력 | ability; capability; competence |
| 實力 | 실력 | real ability; talent |
| 力量 | 역량 | competence; capability |
| 魅力 | 매력 | charm; attractiveness |
| 視力 | 시력 | eyesight |
| 想像力 | 상상력 | imagination; imaginative |
Other resources
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The Kanji Map
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Immersion Kit
Vietnamese
Bibliography
— Grant, B.K. (1982). A Guide To Korean Characters: Reading and Writing Hangul and Hanja, [s.v. 13]. Seoul: Hollym.
— Henshall, K.G. (1998). A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters, [s.v. 74]. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
— Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters, [s.v. 力].
— Seely, C., Henshall, K.G., & Fan, J. (2016). The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji: Remembering and Understanding the 2,136 Standard Japanese Characters, [s.v. 78]. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.