# 力

| 力 | U+529B, &#21147; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-529B |
| ← 劚 [U+529A] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 劜 → [U+529C] |
| ⼒ | U+2F12, &#12050; KANGXI RADICAL POWER |
| ← ⼑ [U+2F11] | Kangxi Radicals | ⼓ → [U+2F13] |
| 力 | U+F98A, &#63882; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F98A |
| ← 黎 [U+F989] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 曆 → [U+F98B] |

## Translingual
### Han character

力 (Kangxi radical 19, 力+0, 2 strokes, cangjie input 大尸 (KS), four-corner 4002$_7$, composition ⿻𠃌丿)
* Kangxi radical #19, ⼒.

#### Derived characters

* Appendix:Chinese radical/力
* 仂, 㔹, 叻, 㘦, 幼, 忇, 扐, 氻, 阞, 㫑, 朸, 牞, 玏, 肋, 㽖, 糼, 助, 㱝, 觔, 䡃, 䣦, 釛, 䯇, 鳨
* 伤, 㘯, 飭(饬), 边, 攰, 赲, 历, 另, 夯, 屴, 艻, 男, 穷, 竻, 虏, 为, 辦, 䏮, 朂, 䇟
* 𭂇, 𭒹, 𡴽, 𤜜, 𣦺, 𥘋, 𦔳, 𦘓, 𬜑, 𧖩, 𡖎, 𪵶, 𧲡, 𧴧, 𧾼, 𤟋, 𭱛, 𬂿, 𬈆, 𩵓, 𫜋, 𪋾, 𣾗, 𢣛
* 𡯄, 𰃌, 𩖙, 𩱹, 𬩳, 𫻧, 𣂒, 𭤧, 𢆲, 𪭊, 𩫸, 𪧔, 𩾜, 𣪤, 𤼶, 𡉂, 𢖰, 𤰛, 𧴥, 𬮅, 𫝓

#### Descendants

* ㄌ

#### See also

* カ (Japanese katakana)

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 146, character 5
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 2288
* Dae Jaweon: page 327, character 31
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 364, character 4
* Unihan data for U+529B
* Unihan data for U+F98A

## Chinese

* 力 (Written Standard Chinese)
* 力 (Cantonese)
* 力 (Gan)
* li̍t (Hakka)
* la̍t (Southern Min)
* 力 (Wu)

### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 力 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Spring and Autumn | Warring States | Warring States | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) | Kangxi Dictionary (compiled in Qing) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Bronze inscriptions | Bronze inscriptions | Chu slip and silk script | Qin slip script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts | Ming typeface |
| | Old Chinese |
| 勒 | *rɯːɡ |
| 肋 | *rɯːɡ |
| 扐 | *rɯːɡ |
| 仂 | *rɯːɡ, *rɯɡ |
| 艻 | *rɯːɡ |
| 朸 | *rɯːɡ, *rɯɡ |
| 玏 | *rɯːɡ |
| 泐 | *rɯːɡ, *rɯɡ |
| 阞 | *rɯːɡ |
| 竻 | *rɯːɡ |
| 力 | *rɯɡ |
| 屴 | *rɯɡ |
| 鳨 | *rɯɡ |
Pictogram (象形) – alternative interpretation, either an arm bending out from the side of the body, or a wooden plough. The original version was 𠠲 and the letter ㄌ in zhuyin alphabet was inspired by this character.
See also the original version of 爭, in which another plow can be seen. Unrelated to 工 and perhaps to 耒 since they are two different tools. Also unrelated to 另.

### Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *k-ra (“strength; to win; classifier for people”) + *-k (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007). Cognate with Burmese အား (a:, “strength; force”); Proto-Loloish *ra² (“strength”), whence Nuosu ꊋ (we); Panyi Bai [script needed] (ɣɯ̱⁴², “strength”); Central Bai hhep (“strength”). A causative derivative is 飭 (OC rhək) (Schuessler, 2007).
Schuessler (2007) also suggests an etymological connection with 來 (OC *m·rɯːɡ, “to come”).

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): lì (li$^4$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧˋ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): ni$^2$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): lǐ
    (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): li̊q
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): ли (li, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): lik$^6$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): ngeak$^8$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): let$^5$
    (Yangjiang, Jyutping++): lik$^6$
* Gan (Wiktionary): lit$^6$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): li̍t
    (Hailu, HRS): lid$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): lid$^6$
    (Changting, Changting Pinyin): di$^5$
* Jin (Wiktionary): lieh$^4$
* Northern Min (KCR): lì / sā̤
* Eastern Min (BUC): lĭk
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): lih$^7$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): la̍t / le̍k / lia̍k / lit
    (Teochew, Peng'im): lag$^8$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): lag$^8$ / lig$^4$
* Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): lik$^5$
* Wu (Wugniu)
** (Northern): $^8$liq / $^8$lieoq
** (Jinhua): $^8$liq
* Xiang
    (Changsha, Wiktionary): li$^6$
    (Loudi, Wiktionary): li$^4$
    (Hengyang, Wiktionary): li$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: lì
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: lì
*** Wade–Giles: li$^4$
*** Yale: lì
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: lih
*** Palladius: ли (li)
*** Sinological IPA : /li⁵¹/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: ni$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: li
*** Sinological IPA : /ni²¹/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: lǐ
*** Sinological IPA : /li²¹/
** (Nanjing)
*** Nanjing Pinyin: li̊q
*** Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): liq$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /liʔ⁵/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: ли (li, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /li²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: lik$^6$
*** Yale: lihk
*** Cantonese Pinyin: lik$^9$
*** Guangdong Romanization: lig$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɪk̚²/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: ngeak$^8$
*** Sinological IPA : /ŋək̚²²/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: let$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /let̚³²/
** (Yangjiang Yue, Jiangcheng)
*** Jyutping++: lik$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɪk̚⁵⁵/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: lit$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /lit̚⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: li̍t
*** Hakka Romanization System: lid
*** Hagfa Pinyim: lid$^6$
*** Sinological IPA: /lit̚⁵/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: lid$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /lit²/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: lid$^6$
*** Sinological IPA: /lit̚⁵/
** (Changting)
*** Changting Pinyin: di$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /ti²¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: lieh$^4$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /liəʔ²/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: lì / sā̤
*** Sinological IPA : /li⁴²/, /sɛ⁵⁵/
* lì - literary;
* sā̤ - vernacular.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit力 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /li⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /li⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /li⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /li²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /li⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /li²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /li²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /l̩⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /li¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /li¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /li²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /ni²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /ni³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /ni²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /li³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /liʔ⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /liəʔ⁵/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /liəʔ²/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /liʌʔ⁵³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /liəʔ⁴³/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /liɪʔ¹/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /liəʔ³/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /liəʔ²/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /lei²¹³/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /li²²/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /li¹¹/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /li²⁴/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /ni²⁴/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /liʔ⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /lit̚⁵/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /lit̚⁵⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /lek̚²/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /lek̚²²/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /lik̚²/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /lik̚⁵/ /lat̚⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /liʔ⁵/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /li⁴²/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /lak̚⁵/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /lek̚⁵/ /lak̚³/ |
* Middle Chinese: lik
Rime :
| Character | 力 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 職 (134) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 林直切 |
| Baxter | lik |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lɨk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /lɨk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /liek̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /lik̚/ |
| Li Rong | /liək̚/ |
| Wang Li | /lĭək̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /li̯ək̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | lì |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | lik$^6$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*k.rək/
    (Zhengzhang): /*rɯɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 力 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | lì |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ lik › |
| Old Chinese | /*k.rək/ |
| English | strength |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 力 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 7854 |
| Phonetic component | 力 |
| Rime group | 職 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 力 |
| Old Chinese | /*rɯɡ/ |

### Definitions

力
* physical strength; physical power; energy
       Tā gèzǐ suī xiǎo dàn lì dà jīngrén. [Pinyin]
       For a small woman she has surprising strength.
* force; strength; power
    汽力 ― qìlì ― steam power
    藥力／药力 ― yàolì ― efficacy of a drug
    力量 ― lìliàng ― power
    攻擊力／攻击力 ― gōngjīlì ― firepower
* (physics) force
       Zhè ge lì de fāngxiàng yǔ wèiyí xiāngtóng. [Pinyin]
       This force is the same direction as the displacement.
* ability; capability
    能力 ― nénglì ― ability
       Tā duì gǔdǒng hěn yǒu jiànshǎng lì. [Pinyin]
       He has an eye for antiques.
* power and influence; might
* (literary) to make an effort; to strive; to endeavor; to work hard
* with all one's might; doing all in one's power
    力爭／力争 ― lìzhēng ― to work hard for
    力挽狂瀾／力挽狂澜 ― lìwǎnkuánglán ― to do one's utmost to save a desperate situation
* a surname, Li

#### Synonyms

* (physical strength):
* 力息 (lì-sĭ) (Northern Min)
* 力氣 / 力气 (lìqi)
* 力水 (lik$^6$ seoi$^2$) (Cantonese, Hakka)
* 力量 (lìliàng)
* 勁頭 / 劲头 (jìntóu) (colloquial)
* 強力 / 强力 (qiánglì)
* 旅力 (lǚlì) (literary)
* 氣力 / 气力 (qìlì)
* 筋力 (jīnlì)
* 膂力 (lǚlì)
* 體力 / 体力 (tǐlì)
* (ability):
* 一手
* 人才 (réncái)
* 伎倆 / 伎俩 (jìliǎng) (literary)
* 俊才 (jùncái)
* 兩手 / 两手 (liǎngshǒu)
* 力量 (lìliàng)
* 功力 (gōnglì)
* 功夫 (gōngfu) (especially in martial arts)
* 天才 (tiāncái) (genius)
* 才具 (cáijù) (formal)
* 才力 (cáilì)
* 才器 (cáiqì) (literary)
* 才幹 / 才干 (cáigàn)
* 才情 (cáiqíng)
* 手段 (shǒuduàn)
* 手法 (shǒufǎ)
* 手眼 (shǒuyǎn)
* 才能 (cáinéng)
* 手腕 (shǒuwàn)
* 手腕子 (shou$^3$ onn$^3$ zr) (Xiang)
* 才華 / 才华 (cáihuá)
* 技巧 (jìqiǎo)
* 把式 (bǎshì) (dialectal)
* 技能 (jìnéng)
* 技藝 / 技艺 (jìyì)
* 技術 / 技术 (jìshù)
* 招數 / 招数 (zhāoshù)
* 本事
* 本領 / 本领 (běnlǐng)
* 材幹 / 材干 (cáigān) (Classical Chinese)
* 能力 (nénglì)
* 能為 / 能为 (néngwéi) (literary, dialectal)
* 能耐 (néngnài) (colloquial)
* 能量 (néngliàng)
* 花頭 / 花头 (Wu)
* 著數 / 着数
* 解數 / 解数
* 資力 / 资力 (zīlì)
* 路數 / 路数 (lùshù)
* 身手 (shēnshǒu)
* 道行
* (function):
* 作用 (zuòyòng)
* 功能 (gōngnéng)
* 性能 (xìngnéng)
* 機能 / 机能 (jīnéng)
* 職能 / 职能 (zhínéng)
* (to make an effort):
* 一力 (yīlì)
* 下力 (xiàlì)
* 不遺餘力 / 不遗余力 (bùyíyúlì)
* 僶俛 / 𠊟俯 (mǐnmiǎn) (literary)
* 儘力 / 尽力 (jǐnlì) (archaic)
* 全力以赴 (quánlìyǐfù)
* 出力 (chūlì)
* 力圖 / 力图 (lìtú)
* 力求 (lìqiú)
* 力爭 / 力争 (lìzhēng)
* 加勁 / 加劲 (jiājìn)
* 努力 (nǔlì)
* 勉力 (miǎnlì)
* 呵嘶呵嘶 (o$^4$ sr$^1$ o$^4$ sr$^1$) (Xiang)
* 強力 / 强力 (qiánglì) (literary)
* 悉力 (xīlì) (literary)
* 打拼 (dǎpīn)
* 拍拚 (Hokkien, Teochew)
* 拍灘 / 拍滩 (Xiamen Hokkien)
* 拼搏 (pīnbó)
* 搏 (bó) (literary, or in compounds)
* 摔拍 (Zhangzhou Hokkien)
* 攢勁 / 攒劲 (zan$^3$ jin$^4$) (Xiang)
* 旅力 (lǚlì) (literary)
* 極力 / 极力 (jílì)
* 殫力 / 殚力 (dānlì)
* 用力 (yònglì)
* 盡力 / 尽力 (jìnlì)
* 竭力 (jiélì)
* 竭盡全力 / 竭尽全力 (jiéjìnquánlì)
* 落力 (lok$^6$ lik$^6$) (Cantonese, Pinghua, Hakka, Pinghua, Hokkien, Pinghua, Teochew, Pinghua, Wenzhounese, Pinghua)
* 賣力 / 卖力 (màilì)
* 賣力氣 / 卖力气 (mài lìqi)

### Compounds

* 一力 (yīlì)
* 一臂之力 (yībìzhīlì)
* 不力 (bùlì)
* 不自量力 (bùzìliànglì)
* 不量力
* 主力 (zhǔlì)
* 乞力馬扎羅山 / 乞力马扎罗山
* 人力 (rénlì)
* 他力
* 以力服人
* 伯力 (Bólì)
* 併力 / 并力 (bìnglì)
* 依力克其 (Yīlìkèqí)
* 侵徹力 / 侵彻力
* 倍力橋 / 倍力桥
* 假力
* 健力
* 側蝕力 / 侧蚀力
* 傾力 / 倾力
* 傳染力 / 传染力 (chuánrǎnlì)
* 儘力 / 尽力 (jǐnlì)
* 免疫力 (miǎnyìlì)
* 內力 / 内力
* 內聚力 / 内聚力
* 全力 (quánlì)
* 公信力 (gōngxìnlì)
* 兵力 (bīnglì)
* 凝聚力 (níngjùlì)
* 出力 (chūlì)
* 分力
* 分子力
* 分解力
* 判斷力 / 判断力 (pànduànlì)
* 創造力 / 创造力 (chuàngzàolì)
* 力不到，不為財 / 力不到，不为财
* 力不副心
* 力不勝任 / 力不胜任
* 力不同科
* 力不從心 / 力不从心 (lìbùcóngxīn)
* 力不從願 / 力不从愿
* 力不自勝 / 力不自胜
* 力主 (lìzhǔ)
* 力乏兵衰
* 力作 (lìzuò)
* 力促 (lìcù)
* 力倍功半
* 力偶 (lì'ǒu)
* 力克 (lìkè)
* 力分勢弱 / 力分势弱
* 力力碌碌
* 力勝 / 力胜
* 力勸 / 力劝
* 力困筋乏
* 力圖 / 力图 (lìtú)
* 力均勢敵 / 力均势敌
* 力場 / 力场 (lìchǎng)
* 力士 (lìshì)
* 力大無窮 / 力大无穷
* 力學 / 力学 (lìxué)
* 力屈勢窮 / 力屈势穷
* 力屈計窮 / 力屈计穷
* 力屈道窮 / 力屈道穷
* 力巴
* 力平衡
* 力度 (lìdù)
* 力弱
* 力強 / 力强
* 力役
* 力征 (lìzhēng)
* 力微任重
* 力戒 (lìjiè)
* 力戰 / 力战 (lìzhàn)
* 力所能及 (lìsuǒnéngjí)
* 力把
* 力拚
* 力持
* 力挫
* 力挽狂瀾 / 力挽狂澜 (lìwǎnkuánglán)
* 力排眾議 / 力排众议 (lìpáizhòngyì)
* 力攻 (lìgōng)
* 力政
* 力敵勢均 / 力敌势均
* 力敵萬人 / 力敌万人
* 力敵萬夫 / 力敌万夫
* 力有未逮 (lìyǒuwèidài)
* 力殫財竭 / 力殚财竭
* 力氣 / 力气 (lìqi)
* 力水
* 力求 (lìqiú)
* 力濟九區 / 力济九区
* 力爭 / 力争 (lìzhēng)
* 力田
* 力畜
* 力疾
* 力盛
* 力盡筋疲 / 力尽筋疲
* 力盡筋舒 / 力尽筋舒
* 力矩 (lìjǔ)
* 力竭 (lìjié)
* 力臂 (lìbì)
* 力臣
* 力荐 (lìjiàn)
* 力薄才疏
* 力行 (lìxíng)
* 力衰
* 力請 / 力请
* 力謀 / 力谋
* 力證 / 力证 (lìzhèng)
* 力蹙勢窮 / 力蹙势穷
* 力軟筋麻 / 力软筋麻
* 力辭不受 / 力辞不受
* 力透紙背 / 力透纸背
* 力道 (lìdào)
* 力邀
* 力避 (lìbì)
* 力量 (lìliàng)
* 力錢 / 力钱
* 力阻
* 力點 / 力点
* 功力 (gōnglì)
* 加力騷 / 加力骚
* 努力 (nǔlì)
* 助力 (zhùlì)
* 努筋拔力
* 勉力 (miǎnlì)
* 務力 / 务力
* 動力 / 动力 (dònglì)
* 勞力 / 劳力 (láolì)
* 勠力 (lùlì)
* 勢力 / 势力 (shìlì)
* 勢單力薄 / 势单力薄 (shìdānlìbó)
* 勢均力敵 / 势均力敌 (shìjūnlìdí)
* 勢窮力孤 / 势穷力孤
* 勢窮力極 / 势穷力极
* 匹力撲六 / 匹力扑六
* 十力
* 協力 / 协力 (xiélì)
* 反撞力
* 合力 (hélì)
* 吃力 (chīlì)
* 同心僇力
* 吸力 (xīlì)
* 吹灰之力 (chuīhuīzhīlì)
* 咭力骨碌
* 回力棒
* 回力球
* 回天之力
* 國力 / 国力 (guólì)
* 地力 (dìlì)
* 壓克力 / 压克力 (yākèlì)
* 壓力 / 压力 (yālì)
* 外力 (wàilì)
* 大力 (dàlì)
* 夯力
* 奮力 / 奋力 (fènlì)
* 好力寶 / 好力宝
* 威力 (wēilì)
* 媚力 (mèilì)
* 孤力難為 / 孤力难为 (gū lì nán wéi)
* 學力 / 学力 (xuélì)
* 定力 (dìnglì)
* 宣力
* 實力 / 实力 (shílì)
* 工力 (gōnglì)
* 巧克力 (qiǎokèlì)
* 巴力 (Bālì)
* 希力奧斯 / 希力奥斯
* 帝力 (dìlì)
* 平衡力
* 年輕力壯 / 年轻力壮 (niánqīnglìzhuàng)
* 并力 (bìnglì)
* 幻想力
* 度德量力
* 引力 (yǐnlì)
* 引潮力
* 張力 / 张力 (zhānglì)
* 強力 / 强力 (qiánglì)
* 彈力 / 弹力 (tánlì)
* 影響力 / 影响力 (yǐngxiǎnglì)
* 後座力 / 后座力 (hòuzuòlì)
* 後繼乏力 / 后继乏力
* 得力 (délì)
* 心力 (xīnlì)
* 心餘力絀 / 心余力绌 (xīnyúlìchù)
* 念力 (niànlì)
* 思力 (sīlì)
* 怪力亂神 / 怪力乱神 (guàilìluànshén)
* 悉力 (xīlì)
* 悉心畢力 / 悉心毕力
* 惜力 (xīlì)
* 惟力是視 / 惟力是视
* 情見力屈 / 情见力屈
* 想像力 (xiǎngxiànglì)
* 應力 / 应力 (yìnglì)
* 戮力 (lùlì)
* 戰力 / 战力 (zhànlì)
* 才力 (cáilì)
* 扭力 (niǔlì)
* 抗力 (kànglì)
* 拉力 (lālì)
* 拔山力
* 推力 (tuīlì)
* 掌力
* 接力 (jiēlì)
* 接觸力 / 接触力
* 握力 (wòlì)
* 摩擦力 (mócālì)
* 效力 (xiàolì)
* 斥力 (chìlì)
* 旅力 (lǚlì)
* 既判力
* 日力 (rìlì)
* 智力 (zhìlì)
* 智均力敵 / 智均力敌
* 暴力 (bàolì)
* 替力
* 有力 (yǒulì)
* 有氣沒力 / 有气没力
* 朱古力 (zhūgǔlì)
* 格力
* 核力 (hélì)
* 核子力
* 棉薄之力
* 業力 / 业力 (yèlì)
* 極力 / 极力 (jílì)
* 權力 / 权力 (quánlì)
* 權鈞力齊 / 权钧力齐
* 欣賞力 / 欣赏力
* 欲振乏力
* 歇力
* 武力 (wǔlì)
* 死力 (sǐlì)
* 殫力 / 殚力 (dānlì)
* 殫精畢力 / 殚精毕力
* 殺傷力 / 杀伤力 (shāshānglì)
* 毅力 (yìlì)
* 比權量力 / 比权量力
* 民力 (mínlì)
* 氣力 / 气力 (qìlì)
* 水力 (shuǐlì)
* 汽力 (qìlì)
* 法力 (fǎlì)
* 注意力 (zhùyìlì)
* 活力 (huólì)
* 浮力 (fúlì)
* 潛力 / 潜力 (qiánlì)
* 潮力發電 / 潮力发电
* 火力 (huǒlì)
* 無力 / 无力 (wúlì)
* 無能為力 / 无能为力 (wúnéngwéilì)
* 熱力 / 热力 (rèlì)
* 營力 / 营力
* 爆發力 / 爆发力 (bàofālì)
* 物力 (wùlì)
* 犬馬之力 / 犬马之力 (quǎnmǎzhīlì)
* 猛力
* 獨力 / 独力 (dúlì)
* 獸力車 / 兽力车
* 理解力 (lǐjiělì)
* 生力軍 / 生力军 (shēnglìjūn)
* 生力麵 / 生力面
* 生命力 (shēngmìnglì)
* 生產力 / 生产力 (shēngchǎnlì)
* 用力 (yònglì)
* 畜力 (chùlì)
* 畢力同心 / 毕力同心
* 盡力 / 尽力 (jìnlì)
* 目力 (mùlì)
* 省力 (shěnglì)
* 眼力 (yǎnlì)
* 破壞力 / 破坏力 (pòhuàilì)
* 磁力 (cílì)
* 神力 (shénlì)
* 神工妙力
* 視力 / 视力 (shìlì)
* 科氏力 (kēshìlì)
* 科里奧利力 (kēlǐ'àolìlì)
* 稽古之力
* 窮心劇力 / 穷心剧力
* 竭力 (jiélì)
* 競爭力 / 竞争力 (jìngzhēnglì)
* 筆力 / 笔力 (bǐlì)
* 筋疲力盡 / 筋疲力尽 (jīnpílìjìn)
* 筋疲力軟 / 筋疲力软
* 精力 (jīnglì)
* 精疲力盡 / 精疲力尽 (jīngpílìjìn)
* 絕力 / 绝力
* 綿力 / 绵力 (miánlì)
* 縛雞之力 / 缚鸡之力
* 續航力 / 续航力
* 群力 (qúnlì)
* 群策群力 (qúncèqúnlì)
* 耐力 (nàilì)
* 耳力 (ěrlì)
* 聯想力 / 联想力
* 聲雄力猛 / 声雄力猛
* 聽力 / 听力 (tīnglì)
* 肆力
* 肥力 (féilì)
* 股肱之力
* 能力 (nénglì)
* 腦力 / 脑力 (nǎolì)
* 腳力 / 脚力 (jiǎolì)
* 膂力 (lǚlì)
* 自不量力 (zìbùliànglì)
* 自力 (zìlì)
* 自然力 (zìránlì)
* 自食其力 (zìshíqílì)
* 致力 (zhìlì)
* 艾力西湖 (Àilìxīhú)
* 苦力 (kǔlì)
* 著力 / 着力 (zhuólì)
* 蓋孜力克 / 盖孜力克 (Gàizīlìkè)
* 藥力 / 药力 (yàolì)
* 號召力 / 号召力 (hàozhàolì)
* 蚊力 (wénlì)
* 蠻力 / 蛮力 (mánlì)
* 衝力 / 冲力 (chōnglì)
* 親和力 / 亲和力 (qīnhélì)
* 角力
* 觔力 / 斤力
* 解像力
* 觸山之力 / 触山之力
* 計盡力窮 / 计尽力穷
* 計窮力屈 / 计穷力屈
* 計窮力極 / 计穷力极
* 計窮力盡 / 计穷力尽
* 記憶力 / 记忆力 (jìyìlì)
* 誘惑力 / 诱惑力 (yòuhuòlì)
* 說服力 / 说服力
* 財力 / 财力 (cáilì)
* 財匱力絀 / 财匮力绌
* 財殫力盡 / 财殚力尽
* 財竭力盡 / 财竭力尽
* 貲力 / 赀力
* 費力 / 费力 (fèilì)
* 資力 / 资力 (zīlì)
* 賣力 / 卖力 (màilì)
* 賽力 / 赛力 (Sàilì)
* 購買力 / 购买力 (gòumǎilì)
* 赤力力
* 身強力壯 / 身强力壮 (shēnqiánglìzhuàng)
* 軍力 / 军力 (jūnlì)
* 較時量力 / 较时量力
* 通力 (tōnglì)
* 道力
* 運力 / 运力 (yùnlì)
* 酒力 (jiǔlì)
* 重力 (zhònglì)
* 量力而為 / 量力而为 (liànglì'érwéi)
* 量力而行 (liànglì'érxíng)
* 量小力微
* 量時度力 / 量时度力
* 阻力 (zǔlì)
* 阿莎力 (āshālì)
* 陳力就列 / 陈力就列
* 電力 / 电力 (diànlì)
* 震撼力
* 靈力 / 灵力 (línglì)
* 靜力平衡 / 静力平衡
* 靜摩擦力 / 静摩擦力
* 預力 / 预力
* 願力 / 愿力
* 風力 / 风力 (fēnglì)
* 食力 (shílì)
* 餘力 / 余力 (yúlì)
* 馬力 / 马力 (mǎlì)
* 骨力
* 體力 / 体力 (tǐlì)
* 鬥力 / 斗力 (dòulì)
* 鬼力
* 魄力 (pòlì)
* 魅力 (mèilì)
* 魔力 (mólì)
* 鼎力 (dǐnglì)
* 齊心同力 / 齐心同力

### Descendants

* → Japanese: 力(りき) (riki)
* → Korean: 력(力) (ryeok), 역(力) (yeok)
* → Vietnamese: lực (力)
Others:
* → Proto-Vietic: *k-rək
** Muong: khấc
** Vietnamese: sức

### References

* “力”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

## Japanese
### Kanji

(First grade kyōiku kanji)
* power, force, strength

#### Readings

* Go-on: りき (riki, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: りょく (ryoku, Jōyō)
* Kun: ちから (chikara, 力, Jōyō)、りきむ (rikimu, 力む)、つとめる (tsutomeru, 力める)
* Nanori: いさお (isao)、いさむ (isamu)、お (o)、か (ka)、ちか (chika)、ちから (chikara)、じから (jikara)、つとむ (tsutomu)、よし (yoshi)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 力
* ちから Grade: 1
* kun'yomi
From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *tikara. Compound of Old Japanese elements 霊 (chi, “power, life force, essence”) +‎ 柄 (kara, “source, origin”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) ちから [chìkáráꜜ] (Odaka – [3])
* IPA: [t͡ɕi̥ka̠ɾa̠]

#### Noun

力(ちから) • (chikara)
* strength; power; force
* (physics) force
* ability; capacity
* effort
* (tarot): Strength

##### Derived terms

* 力(ちから)足(あし) (chikara ashi): a tensed leg; tensing one's legs; (sumo) the traditional sumo stomp at the beginning of a match
* 力(ちから)合(あ)わせ (chikara awase): matching strength: a competition of strength; (by extension) a sumo match
* 力(ちから)軍(いくさ) (chikara ikusa): a test of strength, a competition of strength
* 力(ちから)石(いし) (chikara ishi): a large stone used as a dumbbell for purposes of tests of strength
* 力(ちから)一杯(いっぱい) (chikara ippai): with all one's strength, as hard as one can
* 力(ちから)持(も)ち (chikaramochi): a very strong person
* 力(ちから)添(ぞ)え (chikarazoe): help, assistance, aid

#### Proper noun

力(ちから) • (Chikara)
* a male given name
* a surname

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 力
* りき Grade: 1
* goon
From Middle Chinese 力 (lik). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing. Compare modern Cantonese reading lik$^6$.

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) りき [ríꜜkì] (Atamadaka – [1])
* IPA: [ɾʲikʲi]

#### Affix

力(りき) • (riki)
* power, strength
    力(りき)学(がく)、力(りき)士(し)、二馬(にば)力(りき)
       rikigaku, rikishi, nibariki
       “power studies” (dynamics), “strength person” (sumo wrestler), two horsepower

#### Noun

力(りき) • (riki)
* physical strength
* (Buddhism) capability, especially mystical power
* (Buddhism) the suchness of ability, one of the Ten Suchnesses in Mahayana Buddhism
* short for 力者 (rikisha): a strong person
* (archaic) short for 車力 (shariki), 力車 (rikisha): a rickshaw
* (archaic) a rickshaw operator's wages

##### Derived terms

* 動(どう)力(りき) (dōriki, “energy, motive force”)
* 馬(ば)力(りき) (bariki, “horsepower”)
* 力(りき)士(し) (rikishi, “sumo wrestler”)

### Etymology 3

* Kanji in this term
* 力
* りょく Grade: 1
* kan'on
From Middle Chinese 力 (lì), but apparently from a different source dialect or at a different time than 力 (lik). The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing. Compare reconstructed Middle Chinese reading /li̯ək/ or Korean reading ryeok.
Only found in compounds and idioms in modern Japanese.

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ɾʲo̞kɯ̟]

#### Affix

力(りょく) • (ryoku)
* strength, power
    力(りょく)争(そう)、権(けん)力(りょく)
       ryokusō, kenryoku
       “strength struggle” (a hard fight), “right power” (authority)

##### Derived terms

* 引(いん)力(りょく) (inryoku, “attractive force”)
* 営(えい)力(りょく) (eiryoku, “geomorphic agent”)
* 気(き)力(りょく) (kiryoku, “spirit; drive; morale; vigor”)
* 斥(せき)力(りょく) (sekiryoku, “repulsive force”)
* 動(どう)力(りょく) (dōryoku, “energy, motive force”)
* 力(りょく)争(そう) (ryokusō, “test of strength; hard fight”)
* 努(ど)力(りょく) (doryoku, “effort, endeavor”)
* 協(きょう)力(りょく) (kyōryoku, “cooperation; working together”)
* 体(たい)力(りょく) (tairyoku, “bodily strength; physical power”)
* 魅(み)力(りょく) (miryoku, “allure, charm, glamour”)
* 実(じつ)力(りょく) (jitsuryoku, “merit, true ability; force”)

### References

* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
* 1 2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 力 (MC lik). Perhaps more specifically from Late Middle Chinese 力 (LMC *liə̌k).
Historical Readings :
| Dongguk Jeongun Reading |||
| Dongguk Jeongun, 1448 | 륵〮 (Yale: lúk) | 륵〮 (Yale: lúk) |

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ɾjʌ̹k̚] ~ [jʌ̹k̚]
* Phonetic hangul: [력/역]

### Hanja

Wikisource 力 (eumhun 힘 력 (him ryeok), word-initial (South Korea) 힘 역 (him yeok))
* hanja form of 력/역 (“power; force”) [affix]

#### Compounds

* 강력 (強力, gangnyeok)
* 권력 (權力, gwollyeok)
* 근력 (筋力, geullyeok)
* 노력 (努力, noryeok)
* 능력 (能力, neungnyeok)
* 동력 (動力, dongnyeok)
* 마력 (馬力, maryeok)
* 마력 (魔力, maryeok)
* 매력 (魅力, maeryeok)
* 무력 (武力, muryeok)
* 병력 (兵力, byeongnyeok)
* 부력 (浮力, buryeok)
* 세력 (勢力, seryeok)
* 속력 (速力, songnyeok)
* 수력 (水力, suryeok)
* 시력 (視力, siryeok)
* 실력 (實力, sillyeok)
* 압력 (壓力, amnyeok)
* 약력 (弱力, yangnyeok)
* 역기 (力器, yeokgi)
* 역도 (力道, yeokdo)
* 외력 (外力, oeryeok)
* 인력 (人力, illyeok)
* 인력 (引力, illyeok)
* 조력 (助力, joryeok)
* 조력 (潮力, joryeok)
* 중력 (重力, jungnyeok)
* 지력 (智力, jiryeok)
* 폭력 (暴力, pongnyeok)
* 풍력 (風力, pungnyeok)
* 학력 (學力, hangnyeok)
* 협력 (協力, hyeomnyeok)
* 화력 (火力, hwaryeok)
* 효력 (效力, hyoryeok)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

力: Hán Việt readings: lực (林(lâm)直(trực)切(thiết))
力: Nôm readings: sức, lực, sực, sựt, rực
* chữ Hán form of lực.
** physical force
** Kangxi radical 19—‘power’
* chữ Nôm form of sức (“strength; power”).

#### Compounds

* 力士 (lực sĩ)
* 力量 (lực lượng)
* 動力 (động lực)
* 勢力 (thế lực)
* 壓力 (áp lực)
* 智力 (trí lực)
* 權力 (quyền lực)
* 火力 (hỏa lực/hoả lực)
* 體力 (thể lực)

### References

* 1 2 3 Nguyễn (2014).
* 1 2 Nguyễn et al. (2009).
* 1 2 3 4 5 Trần (2004).
* 1 2 3 Hồ (1976).