力
力 — Power
power, strength, strong, strain, bear up, exert
On’yomiリョク (ryoku)
On’yomiリキ (riki)
On’yomiリイ (rii)
Kun’yomiちから (chikara)
Stroke order (2 strokes)
Watch the strokes draw themselves in the correct order — numbers mark where each stroke starts. Diagram from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA).
Common words using 力
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勢力 | せいりょく seiryoku | influence; power; might |
| 努力 | どりょく doryoku | effort; exertion; endeavour |
| 協力 | きょうりょく kyouryoku | cooperation; collaboration; help |
| 権力 | けんりょく kenryoku | (political) power; authority; influence |
| 原子力 | げんしりょく genshiryoku | atomic energy; nuclear power |
| 実力 | じつりょく jitsuryoku | (real) ability; true strength; merit |
Study notes
力 is a JLPT N4 kanji written with 2 strokes. It is taught in Japanese elementary school (grade 1), so native children learn it early — a good sign it appears everywhere. Ranked #62 of the 2,500 most frequent kanji in newspapers. On’yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings mostly used in compound words; kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, with any highlighted part written in hiragana after the kanji (okurigana).
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