力lì

力

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Simplified form (簡體). 力 (lì, "power, strength") remains unchanged from its traditional counterpart — a pictograph depicting a shoulder muscle or arm, the ancient symbol for physical force. As a radical, it appears in characters like 动 (movement), 功 (achievement), 劲 (strength) and 勉 (to strive), lending its meaning of effort and power to dozens of compounds.

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Shuowen

力. In oracle bone script it is a pictograph of a bent arm with a hand gripping a tool, representing strength. The image of a flexed arm exerting force conveys the idea of power or effort. Thus the character was drawn to depict the physical act of exerting strength, and it remains the symbol for 'strength' today.

Pinyin

lì· HSK 2

力lì

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin