力气
Traditional: 力氣
lì qi HSK 4

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

他力气很大。
Tā lìqi hěn dà.
He has great strength.
我没有力气了。
Wǒ méiyǒu lìqi le.
I have no strength left.
做运动需要力气。
Zuò yùndòng xūyào lìqi.
Doing exercise requires strength.
他力气很大。
Tā lìqi hěn dà.
He has great strength.
我没有力气了。
Wǒ méiyǒu lìqi le.
I have no energy left.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the word down: 力 (lì) means 'strength' or 'force' on its own, and 气 (qì) means 'energy' or 'air'—think of it as the 'energy of strength' in your body. Imagine using your 力气 to lift a heavy 'chest' (sounds like 'qi') to remember the combination.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register, common in both spoken and written Chinese across formal and informal contexts. It is frequently used in everyday situations to describe physical exertion, fatigue, or capability, such as in work, sports, or states of tiredness.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used with verbs like 有 (yǒu, 'to have'), 没有 (méiyǒu, 'to not have'), 花 (huā, 'to spend'), and 用 (yòng, 'to use'). It can be modified by adjectives like 大 (dà, 'big/great') or 小 (xiǎo, 'small/little') to describe the degree of strength. Example structure: Subject + 累得 + 连 + Verb + 的 + 力气 + 都 + 没有 + 了.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, emphasizing hard work and perseverance, 力气 is often associated with manual labor and resilience. Phrases like '力气活' (physical labor) reflect the value placed on diligent effort. It's commonly used to express modesty or exhaustion, as in the example sentence.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 力量 (lìliàng), which can mean 'strength' but is broader, encompassing physical, mental, or metaphorical power (e.g., the strength of a nation). 力气 is more narrowly focused on individual physical strength. Also related to 劲 (jìn), a more colloquial term for strength or vigor, often used in compounds like 使劲 (shǐjìn, 'to exert strength').

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn 力气 in CILI →

Related Words