Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'physical strength' depends on whether you mean general bodily power, muscular force, stamina, or resilience. The most common word is 体力, but other terms like 腕力 or 筋力 are used for specific nuances.
Overall bodily strength, endurance, or vitality, often in contexts like health, sports, or daily energy.
The most common and versatile term for physical strength, stamina, or vitality. Used in health, fitness, and everyday contexts.
I'm exercising to build up my physical strength.
He has a lot of physical strength.
Loanword from English 'stamina'. Often used in sports or casual talk about endurance.
I ran out of stamina.
Physical power coming from muscles, often used for lifting, fighting, or manual labor.
Muscular strength. Common in fitness, sports science, and medical contexts.
I'm doing strength training.
Arm strength or brute force. Often implies physical power used in a rough or unsophisticated way.
General word for strength or power. Can mean physical strength in context, but is broader.
Contrasting bodily power with psychological or spiritual fortitude.
Explicitly 'physical strength' as opposed to mental strength. Used in formal or analytical contexts.
Not just physical strength, but mental strength is also necessary.
Similar to 肉体的な強さ, but slightly more medical or anatomical nuance.
A test to measure physical strength.
Ability to withstand physical hardship, pain, or fatigue.
Endurance or durability. Often used for both people and objects.
He has great endurance.
Toughness, from English 'tough'. Casual and often used in sports or describing a person's grit.
I'm amazed at his toughness.
体力 is overall physical strength and stamina. 筋力 is specifically muscular strength. 腕力 is arm strength, often implying brute force. Use 体力 for general health and fitness, 筋力 for muscle power, and 腕力 when emphasizing raw physical force.
腕力に頼るな。
Don't rely on brute force.
彼は力が強い。
He is physically strong.