Meanings of 功力
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Podcast: 功力
Podcast: 功力
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AI study notes for 功力
技能 (jìnéng) vs 力量 (lìliàng) — choose 功力 when emphasizing mastery and effectiveness from practice rather than just skill or physical strength.
功力 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but leans toward a more formal tone when discussing professional skills or martial arts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 力量 (lìliàng), which simply means strength; while 力量 refers to physical power, 功力 emphasizes acquired skill and efficacy.
While 功力 is not an official HSK word, it relates closely to HSK Level 5 vocabulary about abilities and skills. Learners should focus on context usage and try to connect it with words like 能力 (nénglì - ability) to deepen their understanding.
Learners often use 功力 incorrectly when referring to general strength or ability, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '他的功力很大' (His skill is very big) should be corrected to '他的功力很强' (His skill is very strong).
Pronunciation of 功力
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Learning Lab
Knowing 功力 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component characters
How to say merit in Chinese
“merit” in Chinese is功力
功力 (gōnglì) refers to a person's skill, competence, or efficacy in a particular area, often implying a deep mastery or power derived from consistent effort and practice. It is commonly used in contexts such as martial arts, craftsmanship, or any discipline where skill is cultivated over time.
When to use 功力
功力 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but leans toward a more formal tone when discussing professional skills or martial arts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 力量 (lìliàng), which simply means strength; while 力量 refers to physical power, 功力 emphasizes acquired skill and efficacy.
功力 or something close to it
技能 (jìnéng) vs 力量 (lìliàng) — choose 功力 when emphasizing mastery and effectiveness from practice rather than just skill or physical strength.
What learners get wrong
Learners often use 功力 incorrectly when referring to general strength or ability, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '他的功力很大' (His skill is very big) should be corrected to '他的功力很强' (His skill is very strong).
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Frequently asked questions about 功力
You can say: '他的功力非常强，打败了所有对手。' (His skill is very strong, and he defeated all his opponents.)
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