TeacherJoy

This hanja is 력.

It means “power,” “strength,” or “effort.” Ancient inscriptions show that it originally depicted a farming tool used for plowing. Before animals pulled plows, humans had to do it themselves. So this character naturally came to symbolize “strength.” Later, its meaning expanded to include “ability” and “workers.”

Koreans learn this as “힘 력.” 힘 is the native Korean meaning, and 력 is the pronunciation.

There are so many words using this character! Don’t try to memorize them all at once. Just scan through to get a “feel” for how it’s used, and come back to it whenever you have time.

Let’s explore some Sino-Korean words with 력(力).

Physical & Nature

• 중력 (重力): gravity
• 풍력 (風力): wind power, wind velocity
• 속력 (速力): speed, velocity
• 체력 (體力): physical strength, stamina
• 근력 (筋力): muscle strength
• 시력 (視力): eyesight, vision
• 청력 (聽力): hearing (ability)
• 탄력 (彈力): elasticity, resilience
• 기력 (氣力): energy, vigor
• 생명력 (生命力): vitality, life force

Cognitive & Mental

• 정신력 (精神力): mental strength, willpower, mental toughness
• 상상력 (想像力): imaginative power, imagination
• 기억력 (記憶力): memory (capacity)
• 집중력 (集中力): concentration, focus (ability)
• 창의력 (創意力): creativity (ability)
• 판단력 (判斷力): judgment, discernment
• 결정력 (決定力): decision-making ability

Skills & Talents

• 능력 (能力): ability, capability, competence
• 실력 (實力): skill, competence
• 학력 (學力): level of education, academic background, academic ability, academic achievement
• 가창력 (歌唱力): singing ability
• 표현력 (表現力): ability to express, expressive power, expressiveness
• 실행력 (實行力): ability to take action, execution power
• 추진력 (推進力): propulsion power, drive, momentum, propelling power
• 순발력 (瞬發力): ability to react quickly, agility
• 무능력 (無能力): incompetence, inability
• 흡수력 (吸收力): absorption (capacity)

Others

• 노력 (努力): effort, hard work
• 활력 (活力): vitality, energy
• 여력 (餘力): spare energy, remaining strength
• 폭력 (暴力): violence, brute force
• 재력 (財力): wealth, financial power
• 국력 (國力): national power
• 매력 (魅力): charm, attraction
• 협력 (協力): cooperation, collaboration
• 영향력 (影響力): influence, impact
• 친화력 (親和力): sociability, affinity
• 포용력 (包容力): tolerance, broad-mindedness
• 공신력 (公信力): public confidence, credibility
• 경제력 (經濟力): economic power
• 노동력 (勞動力): labor force, manpower
• 원동력 (原動力): driving force, impetus

Reference

• 동아일보 > 문화 > 한자 뿌리읽기 154 > 力(힘 력)
• 네이버 > 한자사전 > 力
• 국립국어원 한국어-영어 학습사전
• 유네스코 국제기록유산센터 > 유네스코 세계기록유산 > 국제목록 > 중국의 갑골문