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奋力 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
奋力fènlìto do everything one canHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #10119, Very Hard
奋力fènlìto spare no effortHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #10119, Very Hard
奋力fènlìto striveHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #10119, Very Hard
fènlì(fen4li4) T4
  1. 1to do everything one can
  2. 2to spare no effort
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March 24, 2026

奋力(奮力)fènlì(fen4li4)

奋力 (fènlì) means to exert oneself to the fullest extent, often in a challenging or competitive situation. It indicates a strong determination to achieve a goal, frequently used in contexts involving hard work, effort, or struggle against difficulties.

Strokes10Frequency#10119DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the idea of striving and giving one's all is often linked to Confucian values of hard work and self-improvement. The term is frequently used in motivational contexts, such as in education or sports, emphasizing the importance of effort in achieving success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person named Fen who is lifting a heavy weight with all his might. The character 奋 combines the radical for 'to move' (亻) with a character that suggests 'to encourage' or 'to strive' (奋), symbolizing the effort put into lifting. Remembering Fen's struggle will help you recall both the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 奋力

fènlì(fen4li4)
1to do everything one can
2to spare no effort
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About 奋力

奋力Simplified
奮力Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 奋力

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AI Study Notes for 奋力

Quick Contrast

奋发 (fènfā) - use 奋力 when emphasizing exertion in a physical or competitive context, whereas 奋发 often conveys a sense of spirited motivation or enthusiasm.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 奋力 with similar terms that imply less intensity, such as 努力 (nǔlì), which means 'to work hard' but lacks the same urgency. This term is more commonly used in formal or literary contexts, so consider your audience when using it.

HSK Study Tips

As a word not currently included in the HSK levels, focus on the components of the characters. Understanding the root meanings of 奋 (to encourage) and 力 (strength) can help you connect it to other related vocabulary about effort and perseverance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 奋力 when 努力 would be more appropriate, leading to awkward phrasing in casual contexts. For example, saying '我奋力学习' (I strive hard in studying) sounds overly formal; '我努力学习' (I study hard) is more natural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奋力

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Component Characters

奋fènexert oneself
8 strokes大
View full entry
力lìpower
HSK 52 strokes力
View full entry

How to say to do everything one can in Chinese

“to do everything one can” in Chinese is奋力fènlì

奋力 (fènlì) means to exert oneself to the fullest extent, often in a challenging or competitive situation. It indicates a strong determination to achieve a goal, frequently used in contexts involving hard work, effort, or struggle against difficulties.

When to use 奋力

Be careful not to confuse 奋力 with similar terms that imply less intensity, such as 努力 (nǔlì), which means 'to work hard' but lacks the same urgency. This term is more commonly used in formal or literary contexts, so consider your audience when using it.

奋力 or something close to it

奋发 (fènfā) - use 奋力 when emphasizing exertion in a physical or competitive context, whereas 奋发 often conveys a sense of spirited motivation or enthusiasm.

What learners get wrong

Learners often use 奋力 when 努力 would be more appropriate, leading to awkward phrasing in casual contexts. For example, saying '我奋力学习' (I strive hard in studying) sounds overly formal; '我努力学习' (I study hard) is more natural.

Write 奋力

奋
力

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 奋力

奋力 implies a more intense or vigorous effort, often in a challenging situation, whereas 努力 simply means to work hard.

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