lìqi: 力气 - Physical Strength, Effort

• Keywords: lìqi, 力气, liqi meaning, Chinese word for strength, physical strength in Chinese, how to say effort in Chinese, no energy in Chinese, tired in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 力气 (lìqi), which means “physical strength” or “effort.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage for beginner learners. Discover how to use 力气 (lìqi) to talk about being strong, feeling tired, or putting effort into a task, with 10 practical example sentences. Understand the key difference between 力气 (lìqi) (physical power) and other Chinese words for strength, like `力量 (lìliàng)` or `坚强 (jiānqiáng)`, to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lìqi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The physical power of the body; muscular strength or energy.
• In a Nutshell: 力气 (lìqi) is the word for the raw, physical “oomph” you use every day. Think of the strength needed to lift a heavy box, open a tight jar, or the energy you've run out of after a long hike. It's almost always about the body's physical capacity, not about mental or emotional strength. If you're feeling weak, tired, or exhausted, you can say you “don't have 力气.”

• 力 (lì): This character is a pictograph of an ancient plow, but it's easier for learners to imagine it as a person flexing their arm muscle. It directly means “power,” “force,” or “strength.”
• 气 (qì): This character originally showed steam or vapor (气) rising from cooking rice (米). It means “air,” “gas,” or, more abstractly, “vital energy” or “spirit.”
• Together, 力气 (lìqi) combines “physical power” (力) with “vital energy” (气). This fusion creates the specific meaning of tangible, usable physical strength—the energy that fuels your muscles.

While 力气 (lìqi) doesn't carry deep philosophical weight like `道 (dào)`, it's fundamental to understanding daily life and a pragmatic, hard-working cultural mindset. In Chinese culture, physical labor (`体力活 tǐlìhuó`) and the effort one puts into it (`出力气 chū lìqi`) are highly visible and often respected concepts. 力气 (lìqi) is the resource that fuels this work. A key cultural comparison is with the English word “strength.” In English, “strength” is a very broad term. We can say “strength of character,” “mental strength,” or “the strength of our economy.” 力气 (lìqi) is much narrower and almost exclusively refers to physical strength. A Chinese person would never use 力气 (lìqi) to describe someone's strong willpower. This distinction is crucial for learners to grasp. Using 力气 (lìqi) correctly shows you understand that different kinds of “strength” are separate concepts in Chinese.

力气 (lìqi) is an extremely common, everyday word used in informal and neutral contexts.

• Complimenting someone's strength: You'll often hear people exclaim “你力气真大! (Nǐ lìqi zhēn dà!)” - “You're so strong!” when someone lifts something heavy with ease.
• Expressing exhaustion: A very common complaint after a long day of work or exercise is “我没力气了 (Wǒ méi lìqi le)” - “I have no strength/energy left.” It's the physical feeling of being completely spent.
• Describing effort: You can use it to talk about the physical effort required for a task. For example, “开这个瓶子需要很大的力气 (Kāi zhège píngzi xūyào hěn dà de lìqi)” - “Opening this bottle requires a lot of strength.”
• Telling someone not to waste effort: “别白费力气了 (Bié báifèi lìqi le)” means “Don't waste your energy/effort,” often said when a task is impossible or pointless.

• Example 1:
  • 他力气很大，一个人就能搬动那个沙发。
  • Pinyin: Tā lìqi hěn dà, yí ge rén jiù néng bāndòng nàge shāfā.
  • English: He's very strong; he can move that sofa all by himself.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using `力气大 (lìqi dà)` to mean “strong.” This is a common compliment.
• Example 2:
  • 我今天太累了，一点儿力气都没有了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, yìdiǎnr lìqi dōu méiyǒu le.
  • English: I'm so tired today, I don't have a bit of strength left.
  • Analysis: `没力气 (méi lìqi)` is a key phrase for expressing physical exhaustion. The `一点儿都…没… (yìdiǎnr dōu…méi…)` structure emphasizes the complete lack of energy.
• Example 3:
  • 你再用点儿力气，这个盖子就能打开了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài yòng diǎnr lìqi, zhège gàizi jiù néng dǎkāi le.
  • English: Use a little more strength, and you'll be able to open this lid.
  • Analysis: Here, `用力气 (yòng lìqi)` means “to use/exert strength.” It's a direct command or suggestion to apply more physical force.
• Example 4:
  • 别白费力气了，门已经锁上了。
  • Pinyin: Bié báifèi lìqi le, mén yǐjīng suǒ shàng le.
  • English: Don't waste your effort, the door is already locked.
  • Analysis: `白费力气 (báifèi lìqi)` is a set phrase meaning “to waste effort in vain.” `白 (bái)` here means “in vain” or “for nothing.”
• Example 5:
  • 这个工作不怎么需要力气，但是很需要耐心。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gōngzuò bù zěnme xūyào lìqi, dànshì hěn xūyào nàixīn.
  • English: This job doesn't require much physical strength, but it requires a lot of patience.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the distinction between physical strength (`力气`) and a mental attribute (`耐心`, patience).
• Example 6:
  • 她病得很重，连说话的力气都没有。
  • Pinyin: Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, lián shuōhuà de lìqi dōu méiyǒu.
  • English: She is very sick, she doesn't even have the strength to speak.
  • Analysis: The `连…都… (lián…dōu…)` structure is used for emphasis, meaning “even…”. It highlights how profoundly weak she is.
• Example 7:
  • 为了养家，他每天都在工地出力气。
  • Pinyin: Wèile yǎngjiā, tā měitiān dōu zài gōngdì chū lìqi.
  • English: To support his family, he does hard physical labor on the construction site every day.
  • Analysis: `出力气 (chū lìqi)` is a common verb-object phrase meaning “to exert physical effort” or “to do manual labor.”
• Example 8:
  • 我们得省点儿力气，因为还要走很远的路。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen děi shěng diǎnr lìqi, yīnwèi hái yào zǒu hěn yuǎn de lù.
  • English: We have to save some energy, because we still have a long way to walk.
  • Analysis: `省力气 (shěng lìqi)` means “to save strength/energy,” a useful phrase for hiking, sports, or any long physical task.
• Example 9:
  • 虽然他个子小，但是力气不小。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā gèzi xiǎo, dànshì lìqi bù xiǎo.
  • English: Although he is small, he is quite strong (his strength is not small).
  • Analysis: A great example of contrast using `虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…)`. `力气不小 (lìqi bù xiǎo)` is a common way to say someone is surprisingly strong.
• Example 10:
  • 他花了很多力气才把中文学好。
  • Pinyin: Tā huāle hěn duō lìqi cái bǎ Zhōngwén xué hǎo.
  • English: He spent a lot of effort to learn Chinese well.
  • Analysis: While 力气 is mostly physical, it can be used metaphorically for “effort,” especially with the verb `花 (huā)`, meaning “to spend.” This usage is similar to `精力 (jīnglì)` but is still very common.

The biggest mistake English speakers make is using 力气 (lìqi) for non-physical types of “strength.” It's a false friend because its scope is much narrower than the English word. Incorrect: `She has great mental strength.` → `她有很大的精神力气。 (Tā yǒu hěn dà de jīngshén lìqi.)` Why it's wrong: This is a direct, word-for-word translation that makes no sense in Chinese. 力气 is physical. You cannot have “mental physical-strength.” Correct: `她很坚强。 (Tā hěn jiānqiáng.)` or `她的意志力很强。 (Tā de yìzhìlì hěn qiáng.)` How to Choose the Right Word for “Strength”:

• For physical, muscular strength: Use 力气 (lìqi). (e.g., lifting weights)
• For stamina or physical endurance: Use `体力 (tǐlì)`. (e.g., running a marathon)
• For mental/physical energy and vigor (for work/study): Use `精力 (jīnglì)`. (e.g., pulling an all-nighter to study)
• For abstract power, force, or influence: Use `力量 (lìliàng)`. (e.g., the power of the people, the force of nature)
• For being “strong” as a person (resilient, tough): Use the adjective `坚强 (jiānqiáng)`.
• For being “powerful” or “mighty”: Use the adjective `强大 (qiángdà)`. (e.g., a powerful country)

• `力量 (lìliàng)` - A broader, more abstract term for “power” or “force.” While it can include physical strength, it also covers social, natural, or political power. 力气 is a type of 力量.
• `体力 (tǐlì)` - “Stamina” or “physical endurance.” This is about sustained energy over time, whereas 力气 can be about a short burst of maximum strength.
• `精力 (jīnglì)` - “Energy,” “vigor.” This refers to your overall energy level for life and tasks, combining both mental focus and physical vitality. You need 精力 to work or study effectively.
• `坚强 (jiānqiáng)` - (Adjective) “Strong,” “tough,” “resilient.” Used to describe a person's character or will, not their muscles.
• `强大 (qiángdà)` - (Adjective) “Powerful,” “mighty.” Used to describe things like countries, companies, or armies, not an individual's bicep strength.
• `没劲儿 (méijìnr)` - A colloquial Northern-Chinese term meaning “to have no energy,” “listless,” or “boring.” It's a very common, informal synonym for `没有力气 (méiyǒu lìqi)`.
• `努力 (nǔlì)` - (Verb/Adjective) “To strive,” “to work hard,” “hard-working.” This is the general term for applying effort toward any goal, not just physical ones.