Chinese word

用力

Pronunciation

Pinyinyòng lì

Meaning

  • verbuse force

Example

他用力推门，门终于开了。tā yòng lì tuī mén mén zhōng yú kāi le

He used force to push the door, and it finally opened.

Illustration for 用力 (use force)

More examples

搬运工用力抬起重物，额头上满是汗。bān yùn gōng yòng lì tái qǐ zhòng wù é tóu shàng mǎn shì hàn

The mover used force to lift a heavy object, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

Core concept

The use of bodily strength to make a resistant object move or to increase the force of an action.

Common phrases

  • 用力 抬起重物yòng lì tái qǐ zhòng wù

    lift a heavy object with force

  • 用力 挤开人群yòng lì jǐ kāi rén qún

    push one's way through a crowd

Similar words

努力nǔ lì: Making a determined effort and working hard toward a desired result.
使劲儿shǐ jìnr: Exerting a lot of physical force, especially when pushing, pulling, or lifting.

Definition in Chinese

用力气去做事，通常指身体上使出力量而非抽象的努力。yòng lì qì qù zuò shì tōng cháng zhǐ shēn tǐ shàng shǐ chū lì liàng ér fēi chōu xiàng de nǔ lì

Word origin

用力 (yònglì, "use force") is a transparent compound of 用 (yòng, "use") + 力 (lì, "strength"), so the form directly presents strength as something put into an action.

Usage tips

  • In safety and activity instructions, this word points to the amount of muscle power in the movement, not to persistence with a difficult task.

Other meanings

  • hardadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word