原げん動どう

noun

motive; driving force

Often used in technical or abstract contexts to refer to the underlying force or cause that sets something in motion. Most commonly encountered in the compound 原動力 (げんどうりょく).

• 好こう奇き心しんが彼かれの研けん究きゅうの原げん動どうだ。

  Curiosity is the driving force behind his research.

• この機き械かいの原げん動どうは電でん気きモーターです。

  The motive power of this machine is an electric motor.