gōnglǜ: 功率 - Power (Scientific/Technical)

• Keywords: 功率, gonglu, Chinese word for power, engine power in Chinese, electrical power Chinese, what is gonglu, watts in Chinese, horsepower in Chinese, technical Chinese, 功, 率
• Summary: 功率 (gōnglǜ) is the essential Chinese term for “power” in a scientific or technical context, referring to the rate at which work is done or energy is used. Whether you're discussing the horsepower of a car engine, the wattage of a microwave, or the output of a solar panel, 功率 is the specific and correct word. This page explores its meaning, character origins, and practical use in modern China's tech-driven society, helping you avoid common mistakes like confusing it with political power or physical strength.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōng lǜ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: Power, specifically the rate of energy transfer or the rate at which work is done (e.g., watts, horsepower).
• In a Nutshell: Forget about political power or personal strength. 功率 (gōnglǜ) is the “power” you learned about in physics class. It measures how *fast* a machine can work or use energy. A high-power (大功率) air conditioner cools a room quickly, and a high-power charger juices up your phone faster. It's a technical term that you'll frequently encounter on appliance labels, car specifications, and in any discussion about technology or machinery.

• 功 (gōng): This character is all about “work,” “achievement,” or “merit.” Think of功夫 (gōngfu), which means skill acquired through hard work. In physics, 功 refers specifically to “work” in the sense of force applied over a distance.
• 率 (lǜ): This character means “rate,” “ratio,” or “frequency.” You see it in words like 效率 (xiàolǜ - efficiency) and 频率 (pínlǜ - frequency). It describes how often or how fast something happens relative to another measure (like time).
• How they combine: The combination is perfectly logical and descriptive. 功 (work) + 率 (rate) literally translates to “work rate,” which is the exact scientific definition of power. This is a great example of how modern Chinese creates precise technical terms from classical characters.

While 功率 (gōnglǜ) doesn't have deep roots in ancient Chinese philosophy, its widespread use is incredibly significant in understanding Modern China. The term embodies the country's focus on industrialization, technological development, and manufacturing. The obsession with metrics like engine power, charging speed, and energy efficiency is a cultural phenomenon reflecting a national drive towards progress and innovation. A key cultural contrast is with the English word “power.” In English, “power” is a broad, ambiguous term that can mean political influence, physical strength, or electrical power. A beginner might mistakenly use 功率 to talk about a powerful person. Chinese, however, is far more specific:

• 功率 (gōnglǜ): Scientific/technical power (watts, horsepower).
• 权力 (quánlì): Political power, authority.
• 力量 (lìliàng): Physical strength, force.

This linguistic precision reflects a clear compartmentalization of concepts. For a learner, understanding this distinction is crucial. Using 功率 correctly shows not just vocabulary knowledge, but an understanding of a modern, scientific worldview embedded within the language.

You'll see and hear 功率 in many everyday situations, especially when dealing with technology, vehicles, or home appliances.

• Shopping for Electronics: When buying a microwave, air conditioner, or hairdryer, the product specifications will always list its 功率, usually in watts (瓦 wǎ). “大功率” (dà gōnglǜ, high-power) is a common marketing term for devices that work faster and more intensely.
• Discussing Cars: Car enthusiasts will frequently discuss a car's 发动机功率 (fādòngjī gōnglǜ - engine power), measured in kilowatts (千瓦 qiānwǎ) or horsepower (马力 mǎlì).
• Energy Consumption: A device with a high 功率 will consume more electricity. You might hear someone say, “这个取暖器功率太大了，很耗电” (This heater's power is too high, it uses a lot of electricity).
• Common Collocations:
  • 额定功率 (édìng gōnglǜ): Rated power (the standard operating power).
  • 输出功率 (shūchū gōnglǜ): Output power.
  • 峰值功率 (fēngzhí gōnglǜ): Peak power.

• Example 1:
  • 这台空调的功率太小了，房间半天都凉不下来。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái kōngtiáo de gōnglǜ tài xiǎo le, fángjiān bàntiān dōu liáng bù xiàlái.
  • English: This air conditioner's power is too low; the room takes forever to cool down.
  • Analysis: A very common real-life complaint. It directly links the concept of low power (小功率) to a slow result.
• Example 2:
  • 这辆跑车的发动机功率非常强劲，加速很快。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liàng pǎochē de fādòngjī gōnglǜ fēicháng qiángjìng, jiāsù hěn kuài.
  • English: This sports car's engine power is very strong; it accelerates quickly.
  • Analysis: Here, 功率 is used to describe the performance of a vehicle. 强劲 (qiángjìng) is a common adjective to describe high power.
• Example 3:
  • 你想买多大功率的微波炉？800瓦的够用了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng mǎi duō dà gōnglǜ de wéibōlú? Bābǎi wǎ de gòu yòng le ma?
  • English: What power microwave do you want to buy? Is 800 watts enough?
  • Analysis: A typical question when shopping for appliances. It shows how 功率 is quantified with units like 瓦 (wǎ - watt).
• Example 4:
  • 手机充电器的功率越大，充电速度通常也越快。
  • Pinyin: Shǒujī chōngdiànqì de gōnglǜ yuè dà, chōngdiàn sùdù tōngcháng yě yuè kuài.
  • English: The higher the power of a phone charger, the faster the charging speed usually is.
  • Analysis: This connects 功率 directly to the user benefit of “speed,” a key selling point for modern electronics.
• Example 5:
  • 购买电器时，一定要查看它的额定功率和能效等级。
  • Pinyin: Gòumǎi diànqì shí, yīdìng yào chákàn tā de édìng gōnglǜ hé néngxiào děngjí.
  • English: When purchasing electrical appliances, you must check their rated power and energy efficiency rating.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the formal term 额定功率 (édìng gōnglǜ - rated power), which is what you'll see printed on official labels.
• Example 6:
  • 这个音响的峰值功率可以达到500瓦。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yīnxiǎng de fēngzhí gōnglǜ kěyǐ dádào wǔbǎi wǎ.
  • English: The peak power of this audio system can reach 500 watts.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates another technical collocation, 峰值功率 (fēngzhí gōnglǜ - peak power), common in audio and electronics specs.
• Example 7:
  • 在物理学中，功率的定义是单位时间内所做的功。
  • Pinyin: Zài wùlǐxué zhōng, gōnglǜ de dìngyì shì dānwèi shíjiān nèi suǒ zuò de gōng.
  • English: In physics, the definition of power is the work done per unit of time.
  • Analysis: This is the textbook definition, showing its formal, scientific usage.
• Example 8:
  • 我们需要一台大功率的工业风扇来给车间降温。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yī tái dà gōnglǜ de gōngyè fēngshàn lái gěi chējiān jiàngwēn.
  • English: We need a high-power industrial fan to cool down the workshop.
  • Analysis: Highlights the use of “大功率” (dà gōnglǜ - high-power) as a compound adjective to describe a type of machine.
• Example 9:
  • 太阳能电池板的输出功率取决于光照强度。
  • Pinyin: Tàiyángnéng diànchíbǎn de shūchū gōnglǜ qǔjué yú guāngzhào qiángdù.
  • English: The output power of a solar panel depends on the intensity of the light.
  • Analysis: Shows the term used in the context of renewable energy and technology.
• Example 10:
  • 为了安全，这条电路不能连接总功率超过2000瓦的电器。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, zhè tiáo diànlù bùnéng liánjiē zǒng gōnglǜ chāoguò liǎngqiān wǎ de diànqì.
  • English: For safety, this circuit cannot be connected to appliances with a total power exceeding 2000 watts.
  • Analysis: A practical warning related to electrical safety, demonstrating the concept of “total power” (总功率).

The biggest pitfall for English speakers is using 功率 for other types of “power.” It is exclusively for scientific and technical power.

• Mistake: Confusing it with political power or authority.
  • Incorrect: ~~这个总统有很多功率。~~ (Zhège zǒngtǒng yǒu hěn duō gōnglǜ.)
  • Correct: 这个总统有很大的权力。(Zhège zǒngtǒng yǒu hěn dà de quánlì.)
  • Reason: 权力 (quánlì) is for authority and political influence. 功率 is for machines.
• Mistake: Confusing it with physical strength.
  • Incorrect: ~~那个举重运动员的功率真大。~~ (Nàge jǔzhòng yùndòngyuán de gōnglǜ zhēn dà.)
  • Correct: 那个举重运动员的力量真大。(Nàge jǔzhòng yùndòngyuán de lìliàng zhēn dà.)
  • Reason: 力量 (lìliàng) is for physical strength or force. While a weightlifter technically generates power (功率), in everyday speech you would always comment on their strength (力量).
• Mistake: Confusing Power (rate) with Energy (amount).
  • Incorrect: ~~我家上个月用了太多功率。~~ (Wǒ jiā shàng ge yuè yòngle tài duō gōnglǜ.)
  • Correct: 我家上个月用了太多电。(Wǒ jiā shàng ge yuè yòngle tài duō diàn.)
  • Reason: You consume energy (能量) or electricity (电), which is measured in kilowatt-hours (度). 功率 is the *rate* of consumption (kilowatts). A high-power device, used over time, results in high energy consumption.

• 能量 (néngliàng) - Energy. Power is the rate of energy transfer.
• 电力 (diànlì) - Electric power, electricity. Often used interchangeably with 电 (diàn).
• 马力 (mǎlì) - Horsepower, a common unit for engine power.
• 瓦特 (wǎtè) - Watt, the international standard unit of power. Often shortened to 瓦 (wǎ).
• 效率 (xiàolǜ) - Efficiency. The ratio of useful output power to total input power.
• 电压 (diànyā) - Voltage. The electric potential difference.
• 电流 (diànliú) - Electric current. The flow of electric charge.
• 发动机 (fādòngjī) - Engine. The component that generates mechanical power.
• 耗电 (hàodiàn) - To consume electricity. A device with high 功率 is often described as 耗电.