力 lì — strength, power; force; effort

Pinyin

• lì (fourth tone, falling)

strength, power; force; effort

Character breakdown

• 力shape partA single pictograph: a plough, handle above and blade below.

Mnemonic

Two strokes for a plough: the bent handle at the top, the blade below that bites into the soil. (The Shuowen reads the same shape as the sinew of a straining arm — either way it is effort pushed into something.) It works the field in 男, and it is the strength in 努力, 力气 and 动.

A memory aid written by HSK Guide editors. It is not an etymology and does not describe the historical origin of the character.

Words containing 力

• 能力nénglì (second tone, rising)ability, capability
• 努力nǔlì (third tone, dipping)hard-working, diligent; to make an effort