also: じりょく
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
one's own strength; one's own efforts
Used when someone accomplishes something without relying on others; often appears in phrases like 自力で (by oneself).
彼は自力で問題を解決した。
He solved the problem by himself.
自力で立ち上がる力がまだない。
I still don't have the strength to stand up on my own.
noun
self-salvation
Buddhist term referring to achieving salvation through one's own efforts, as opposed to relying on external divine help.
浄土真宗では、自力ではなく他力を説く。
Jōdo Shinshū teaches salvation through other-power, not self-power.
Compound of 自 (self) and 力 (power). The reading じりき is the standard Sino-Japanese on'yomi combination; じりょく is a less common variant.