About this Draft
This page is part of the early access version of The Kanji Speedrun. The essentials—kanji meanings and mnemonics—are already in place and usable, but nearly every part of the page is still being polished. Some entries may contain mistakes, but please rest assured we are working hard to make revisions.
We’re sharing these drafts now so you can keep learning while we polish the full experience. If you notice something off, please don’t hesitate to let me know—it’s a huge help in improving the course!
力
POWER
Mnemonic
This kanji looks like an arm flexing, muscle bulging at the side. Imagine someone showing off their biceps — the very picture of POWER.
力 is one of the most common building blocks in Japanese. You’ll see it appear in kanji related to strength, effort, ability, and work.
Example Vocabulary
- 力（ちから） – power, strength
- 力仕事（ちからしごと） – physical labor
- 能力（のうりょく） – ability, capacity
- 力持ち（ちからもち） – strong person
- 全力（ぜんりょく） – full effort, all one’s power
Strength in words
力 stretches across meanings — from everyday muscle (力, 力持ち), to effort (全力), to ability itself (能力).
Whenever strength, skill, or effort is at play, 力 is usually nearby.
Example Sentences
- 彼は力持ちで、大きな箱を一人で運びました。– He’s a strong person and carried the big box alone.
- 全力で走って勝ちました。– I ran with all my power and won.