動力
Meanings
General term for mechanical or physical power that drives machines, vehicles, or systems. Often used in compounds like 動力源 (power source) or 動力機関 (power engine).
This factory operates using electricity as its power source.
The steam engine was the main motive power of the Industrial Revolution.
three-phase electricity
Engineering term; specifically refers to three-phase alternating current as a power source. Often used in technical contexts such as 動力回路 (power circuit) or 動力線 (power line).
See also: 三相交流
The large machinery in the factory runs on three-phase electricity.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉の動力になるto become the motive power for something
Water flow becomes the motive power for the dam.
- 動力を得るto obtain (motive) power
This machine gets its power from steam.
- 動力を伝えるto transmit power (to another part of a machine)
It's a mechanism that transmits the engine's power to the tires.
- 〈物〉を動力として使うto use something as a power source
In the past, coal was used as a power source.