In this lesson, you will learn five characters related to power, strength and trust.
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力 = 력 = Power
(Korean name: 힘 력)
You will notice that a lot of western people have this character tattooed on their body. Not only is the character simple, but its meaning of “power” is something that people feel is worth putting on their body.
Common words using this character:
人力 = manpower
體力 = one’s physical strength
노力 = effort
기억力 = one’s memory
폭力 = violence
능力 = ability
압力 = pressure
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强 = 강 = Strength
(Korean name: 힘쓸 강)
Common words using this character:
强化 = strengthen
强자 = strong person
强하다 = strong
强조 = emphasis
强점 = one’s strong points
强大國 = a powerful nation (not common in conversation, but its meaning is easy to understand now that you know the three component characters within the word)
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弱 = 약 = Weak
(Korean name: 약할 약)
I see this character all the time on the subway in Seoul indicating that the specific car I am in is the one with “weak” air-conditioning.
Common words using this character:
弱化 = weaken
弱자 = weak person
노弱자 = the old and weak
弱점 = one’s weak points
弱小國 = a small and weak (not powerful) nation
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火 = 화 = Fire
(Korean name: 불 화)
I don’t really use many words containing this character in everyday life, but this is specifically one of the elementary characters that all Korean people can recognize.
Common words using this character:
火요日 = Tuesday
火山 = volcano
火力 = firepower
방火하다 = to burn something
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信 = 신 = Trust/Believe
(Korean name: 믿을 신)
Common words using this character:
信用 = credit
信뢰 = faith, confidence
信앙 = faith/religious belief
배信 = betrayal
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Okay, I got it! Take me to the next lesson! Or,
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