強ごう力りき

ご

う

り

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Describes extraordinary physical strength or power, often in a literary or emphatic context. Can be used as a noun or adjectival noun.

彼かれは強ごう力りきな力ちからで岩いわを持もち上あげた。
He lifted the rock with herculean strength.
その薬くすりは強ごう力りきな効こう果かがある。
That medicine has a powerful effect.

noun

mountain carrier-guide

Only when written 強力

Historical term for a person who carried goods and guided travelers in mountainous areas. Restricted to the 強力 spelling.

昔むかし、山やま道みちでは強ごう力りきが荷に物もつを運はこんだ。
In the old days, mountain carrier-guides transported luggage along mountain paths.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

強ごう力りきを発はっ揮きするto display herculean strength
彼かれは火か事じの現げん場ばで強ごう力りきを発はっ揮きして大おおきな家か具ぐを運はこび出だした。
He displayed herculean strength at the fire scene, carrying out heavy furniture.
〈場ば所しょ〉で強ごう力りきを雇やとうto hire a mountain carrier-guide at a place
登と山ざん口ぐちで強ごう力りきを雇やとって荷に物もつを運はこんでもらった。
We hired a mountain guide at the trailhead to carry our luggage.

Kanji

強strong
力power, strength, strong
剛sturdy, strength
豪overpowering, great, powerful

Related words

怪かい力りき sense 1
怪力 and 強力 both describe superhuman physical strength, but 怪力 is the more common modern word while 強力 (ごうりき) has a literary, old-fashioned feel.
力ちから持もちN1
剛力 is a somewhat literary/old-fashioned term for a person of great physical strength, while 力持ち is the everyday, plain word for the same idea.

Opposites

非ひ力りき sense 1
非力 means lacking in strength or power, the opposite of the mighty power described by 強力 (ごうりき).

Don't confuse with

強きょう力りょくN3
強力 read as ごうりき is a rare word for herculean strength or a mountain guide, while the same kanji read as きょうりょく is the everyday word meaning 'powerful' or 'strong'.

Word family

強ごう力りき犯はん
violent crime

Written forms

強ごう力りき
Standard kanji spelling for both senses.
剛ごう力りきUsage100%
Alternate kanji form; rarely used.
豪ごう力りき
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

The reading ごうりき is a combination of 強 (strong) and 力 (power). The historical derivation of the 'mountain carrier-guide' sense is uncertain, but it may be related to the idea of great strength needed for such work.