Chinese word

毅力

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì lì

Meaning

  • nounperseverance

Example

学中文需要毅力和每天的练习。xué zhōng wén xū yào yì lì hé měi tiān de liàn xí

Learning Chinese requires perseverance and daily practice.

Illustration for 毅力 (perseverance)

More examples

写博士论文需要很大的毅力。xiě bó shì lùn wén xū yào hěn dà de yì lì

Writing a doctoral dissertation requires great perseverance.

Core concept

A steady inner force that keeps effort going when progress is difficult.

Common phrases

  • 增强毅力zēng qiáng yì lì

    strengthen perseverance

  • 缺乏毅力quē fá yì lì

    lack perseverance

  • 有毅力的人yǒu yì lì de rén

    person with perseverance

Similar words

意志yì zhì: Mental strength used to stay focused on achieving a goal.
决心jué xīn: A firm intention formed after deciding that something must be done.
耐力nài lì: The capacity to sustain physical or mental activity over a long period.
耐心nài xīn: The calm self-control needed to wait or deal with trouble patiently.

Definition in Chinese

坚持做一件事，即使遇到挫折也不轻易放弃的意志或品质。jiān chí zuò yí jiàn shì jí shǐ yù dào cuò zhé yě bù qīng yì fàng qì de yì zhì huò pǐn zhì

Word origin

毅 (yì, "firm resolve") + 力 (lì, "strength") forms the idea of strength that remains firm through difficulty.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, 有毅力 (yǒu yìlì, "have perseverance") commonly describes a person, while 没有毅力 (méiyǒu yìlì, "lack perseverance") describes difficulty staying with a task.

Other meanings

  • willpowernoun
  • endurancenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word