Synonyms of “Power” in Chinese

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力氣 · 力量 · 政權 · 權力 · 勢力 · 動力 · 電力 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

7 Ways to Say “Power” in Chinese

Seven ways to say “power” in Mandarin — from raw physical strength to electricity.

力气 lìqì and 力量 lìliàng can both be translated as “power,” “strength,” “force,” or “energy” — both are nouns. This page also covers five more specific “powers”: 政权 zhèngquán, 权力 quánlì, 势力 shìlì, 动力 dònglì, and 电力 diànlì.

一

力气 lìqì

Noun · Physical Strength / Effort

力气 lìqì generally refers to physical strength or effort, particularly the strength required for manual labor or physical tasks. It can also describe the amount of energy or effort put into something. It’s more common in spoken language than in written language.

我wǒ感冒gǎnmào了le，所以suǒyǐ没有méiyǒu力气lìqì。
I’ve got a cold, so I have no energy.
老虎lǎohǔ是shì一种yìzhǒng力气lìqì很hěn大dà的de动物dòngwù。
Tigers are animals with great strength.
我wǒ花huā了le很多hěn duō力气lìqì才cái完成wánchéng这zhè工作gōngzuò。
I put a lot of effort into completing this task.
二

力量 lìliàng

Noun · Broader Force

力量 lìliàng is used more widely. It can refer to physical strength as well as mental, emotional, political, or economic power. When it describes physical power specifically, it’s more often used in written language.

团队tuánduì的de力量lìliàng非常fēicháng大dà。
The strength of a team is very powerful.
大自然dàzìrán的de力量lìliàng超过chāoguò人类rénlèi的de想像xiǎngxiàng。
The force of nature is beyond human imagination.
政府zhèngfǔ决定juédìng加强jiāqiáng国家guójiā的de军事jūnshì力量lìliàng。
The government decided to strengthen the country’s military forces.
我的wǒde狗gǒu力量lìliàng／力气lìqì很hěn大dà。
My dog has great strength.
三

政权 zhèngquán

Noun · Governing Power

It refers to political control power, such as the power held by a government or ruling party.

军队jūnduì夺取duóqǔ了le政权zhèngquán。
The army has seized power.
这个zhège国家guójiā的de政权zhèngquán已经yǐjīng更迭gēngdié多次duō cì了le。
The regime in this country has changed many times.
新xīn政府zhèngfǔ上台shàngtái后hòu，展开zhǎnkāi了le政权zhèngquán转移zhuǎnyí。
After the new government took office, the transfer of power began.
四

权力 quánlì

Noun · Authority

It refers to power or authority, often held by an individual or organization. It can be political power, or power in other domains such as business, law, or social situations.

她tā在zài公司gōngsī的de权力quánlì越来越yuèláiyuè大dà。
She has an increasingly important power in the company.
他tā有yǒu决定juédìng公司gōngsī未来wèilái发展fāzhǎn的de权力quánlì。
He has the power to decide the future development of the company.
这个zhège职位zhíwèi拥有yōngyǒu很大hěn dà的de决策juécè权力quánlì。
This position holds a lot of decision-making power.
五

势力 shìlì

Noun · Influence

It refers to social or political influence, often held by a group or individual. It can also refer to physical force or strength.

这个zhège大dà企业qǐyè在zài政治zhèngzhì上shàng有yǒu很大hěn dà的de势力shìlì。
This big company has a lot of power in politics.
她tā有yǒu一些yìxiē很hěn有势力yǒushìlì的de朋友péngyǒu。
She has friends with influential powers.
这个zhège组织zǔzhī的de势力shìlì已经yǐjīng扩展kuòzhǎn到dào全国quánguó。
This organization’s influence has already spread nationwide.
六

动力 dònglì

Noun · Motive Force

It refers to motive power or energy, such as the power to move or to cause change. It can be physical energy, like the power of an engine, or a more abstract form of energy, like the motivation to achieve a goal.

父亲fùqīn的de压力yālì是shì我的wǒde动力dònglì。
I was motivated by the pressure from my father.
引擎yǐnqíng是shì车辆chēliàng运转yùnzhuǎn的de动力dònglì。
The engine is the power behind the vehicle’s operation.
对duì未来wèilái的de期待qídài给gěi了le她tā继续jìxù前进qiánjìn的de动力dònglì。
Hope for the future gave her the motivation to keep moving forward.
七

电力 diànlì

Noun · Electric Power

It refers specifically to electric power or electricity, such as the power used to generate electricity or the power carried by an electrical system.

我wǒ一直yìzhí担心dānxīn电力diànlì不足bùzú的de问题wèntí。
I always worry about its insufficient power supply.
这个zhège地区dìqū的de电力diànlì供应gōngyìng非常fēicháng稳定wěndìng。
The power supply in this area is very stable.
太阳能tàiyángnéng是shì一种yìzhǒng干净gānjìng的de电力diànlì来源láiyuán。
Solar energy is a clean source of electric power.
08  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordCore MeaningRegister / Domain
力气lìqì Physical strength or effort Spoken language
力量lìliàng Physical, mental, emotional, or political force Written (for physical sense)
政权zhèngquán Governing / political control power Government, ruling parties
权力quánlì Authority held by a person or org Business, law, politics
势力shìlì Social / political influence Groups, factions
动力dònglì Motive power or motivation Machines, personal drive
电力diànlì Electric power / electricity Utilities, engineering
09  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
After running for an hour, I have no strength left at all.
跑pǎo了le一yì小时xiǎoshí，我wǒ完全wánquán    没有méiyǒu了le。
The power of love can change a person.
爱ài的de    可以kěyǐ改变gǎibiàn一个yíge人rén。
The rebels finally overthrew the government’s power.
叛军pànjūn终于zhōngyú推翻tuīfān了le政府zhèngfǔ的de    。
As the manager, she has the power to approve this budget.
身为shēnwéi经理jīnglǐ，她tā有yǒu批准pīzhǔn这笔zhè bǐ预算yùsuàn的de    。
This gang has a lot of power in the local community.
这个zhège帮派bāngpài在zài当地dāngdì有yǒu很大hěn dà的de    。
Curiosity is the driving force behind his research.
好奇心hàoqíxīn是shì他tā研究yánjiū的de    。
This factory generates power for the whole city.
这座zhè zuò工厂gōngchǎng为wèi整个zhěngge城市chéngshì提供tígōng    。
The strength of these two countries is roughly equal.
这zhè两个liǎng ge国家guójiā的de    差不多chàbuduō。
Even after decades, the local mafia’s power remains strong.
即使jíshǐ过guò了le几十年jǐshínián，当地dāngdì黑帮hēibāng的de    依然yīrán强大qiángdà。
The president holds the power to sign new laws.
总统zǒngtǒng拥有yōngyǒu签署qiānshǔ新xīn法律fǎlǜ的de    。
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