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原動力 (げんどうりょく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

原げん動どう力りょく

げ

ん

ど

う

りょ

く

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

driving force; motive power

Refers to the fundamental energy, motivation, or cause that moves something forward, whether physical, social, or psychological.

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力りょくだ。
Curiosity is the driving force behind his research.
蒸じょう気き機

き

関かん

は

産さん

業ぎょう

革かく

命めい

の

原げん

動どう

力りょく

と

なっ

た

。

The steam engine became the motive power of the Industrial Revolution.

Kanji

原meadow, original, primitive
動move, motion, change
力power, strength, strong

Similar words

動どう力りょく
動力 is a more general term for power or motive force, often used in mechanical contexts. 原動力 emphasizes the source or origin of that power, and is frequently used metaphorically.
推すい進しん力りょく
推進力 means propulsive force or thrust, typically in a physical or project-driving sense. 原動力 is broader and can refer to any underlying driving force, including abstract motivation.

Etymology

Compound of 原 (gen, 'source, origin') and 動力 (dōryoku, 'power, motive force'). The term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese coinage.