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力气 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
力气lìqistrengthHSK 4, n, rank #3873, Medium
lìqi(li4qi5) T4
  1. 1strength
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
力气(力氣)lìqi(li4qi5)

力气 (lìqì) refers to physical strength or effort, often in the context of doing work or carrying objects. It can also imply the ability to exert force, and is commonly used when discussing tasks that require physical exertion.

Frequency#3873DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, physical strength is often associated with hard work and perseverance. 力气 can also evoke images of traditional laborers or craftsmen, highlighting the value placed on manual labor and strength in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong person (力) lifting a heavy object (气). The character 力 represents strength, while 气 suggests energy or air, combining to signify the physical power one has to perform tasks.

Meanings of 力气

lìqi(li4qi5)
1strength
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 力气

力气Simplified
力氣Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3873Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 力气

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Podcast: 力气

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AI Study Notes for 力气

Quick Contrast

体力 (tǐlì) refers to physical stamina or endurance, while 力气 (lìqi) emphasizes the strength or force at a given moment.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a strong person (力) lifting a heavy object (气). The character 力 represents strength, while 气 suggests energy or air, combining to signify the physical power one has to perform tasks.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 力气 with 努力 (nǔlì), which means effort in a more abstract sense. 力气 is typically used in informal contexts and is often paired with verbs like 'to use' (用力, yònglì) or 'to have' (有力气, yǒulìqì).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 力气 connects with other words related to physical activity and effort, such as 努力 (nǔlì) and 能力 (nénglì). Focus on using it in sentences that describe tasks requiring strength.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, physical strength is often associated with hard work and perseverance. 力气 can also evoke images of traditional laborers or craftsmen, highlighting the value placed on manual labor and strength in society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 力气 with the word 努力 (nǔlì), which means effort rather than strength. For example, saying '我努力没有力气' (Wǒ nǔlì méiyǒu lìqì) suggests a misunderstanding; it should be '我没有力气' (Wǒ méiyǒu lìqì) to focus on physical strength.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 力气

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Component Characters

力lìpower
HSK 52 strokes力
View full entry
气qìgas
HSK 44 strokes气
View full entry

Write 力气

力
气

Practice writing 力气 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 力气

力气 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

你真自以为是。我们为什么要费那么大的____？

You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths?

Example Sentences for 力气 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你真自以为是。我们为什么要费那么大的力气？

nǐ zhēn zì yǐ wéi shì。 。 wǒ mén wéi shí mó yào fèi nà mó dà de lì？

You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths?
2
灭鼠花了大力气。

miè shǔ huā le dà lì qì。

A huge effort was made to exterminate the rats.
3
她使出全身力气抡起榔头砸向他的脑袋。

tā shǐ chū quán shēn lì qì lūn qǐ láng tóu zá xiàng tā de nǎo dài。

She swung the hammer at his head with all her might.
4
南希使出所有力气，用力划动双桨。

nán xī shǐ chū suǒ yǒu lì qì， ， yòng lì huá dòng shuāng。

Mustering all her strength, Nancy pulled hard on both oars.
5
一些有听障的儿童可能需要花更大的力气来克服这一缺陷。

yī xiē yǒu tīng zhàng de ér tóng kě néng xū yào huā gēng dà de lì qì lái kè fú zhè yī quē xiàn。

Some hearing-impaired children may work harder to overcome their handicap.
6
何况, 她年纪轻、力气大,一定会自卫.

hé kuàng, , tā nián jì、 qīng 、 lì, qì dà , yī dìng.

Besides, she was young and lusty and would defend herself.
7
我力气不够大，抱不动他。

wǒ lì qì bù gòu dà， ， bào bù dòng。

I'm not strong enough to carry him.
8
他用胳膊和腿在水中乱划, 这样虽可以漂浮,但却白费了许多力气.

tā yòng gē bó hé tuǐ zài shuǐ zhōng luàn huá, , zhè yàng suī kě yǐ piāo, fú , dàn què bái fèi le xǔ duō.

Hurling his arms and legs around wildly, he kept afloat but wasted much effort.
9
如果必须对付拍岸浪的话,你们得把全部力气都用上.

rú guǒ bì xū duì fù pāi àn làng de huà, , nǐ mén dé bǎ quán bù lì qì dū yòng.

If we have to run a surf you'll need all your strength.
10
哈里疑心波茨故意让他白费力气地瞎找一通。

hā lǐ yí xīn bō cí gù yì ràng tā bái fèi lì qì dì xiā zhǎo yī tōng。

Harry wondered if Potts had deliberately sent him on a wild goose chase.

Cultural Notes for 力气

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, physical strength is often associated with hard work and perseverance. 力气 can also evoke images of traditional laborers or craftsmen, highlighting the value placed on manual labor and strength in society.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While the concept of strength is universal, Western cultures may emphasize mental strength or resilience more than physical strength, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in contexts that prioritize physicality in Chinese culture.

Frequently Asked Questions about 力气

You can say, '我没有力气去健身房' (Wǒ méiyǒu lìqì qù jiànshēnfáng), meaning 'I don't have the strength to go to the gym.'