====== tǐlì: 体力 - Physical Strength, Stamina, Energy ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 体力, tili, physical strength in Chinese, stamina in Chinese, energy, Chinese word for physical exertion, 体力好, 体力差, physical power, bodily strength, endurance.
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **体力 (tǐlì)**, which translates to "physical strength," "stamina," or "physical energy." This comprehensive guide explores its use in everyday life, from discussing exercise and demanding jobs to describing health and exhaustion. Understand how **体力 (tǐlì)** crucially differs from concepts like "force" (**力量**) or "mental energy" (**精力**), and see how it's used in practical examples to talk about being energetic (**体力好**) or drained (**体力差**).
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tǐ lì
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** Physical strength, stamina, or the energy required for physical exertion.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **体力 (tǐlì)** as your body's "battery level" for physical tasks. It's not just about raw muscle power, but also your endurance and ability to keep going. When someone says their **体力** is good (**体力好**), it means they have a lot of stamina and don't get tired easily. If it's bad (**体力差**), they feel weak and get exhausted quickly. It’s the energy you use for everything from climbing stairs to running a marathon.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **体 (tǐ):** This character means "body," "form," or "substance." It refers directly to a person's physical self.
  * **力 (lì):** This character means "strength," "power," or "force." It is a pictograph originally depicting a plow, an ancient tool requiring great strength to use, symbolizing physical power.
  * Together, **体力 (tǐlì)** literally means "body strength." The combination shifts the focus from a momentary display of force to the overall physical energy and endurance capacity of the body.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **体力 (tǐlì)** is a deeply practical and frequently used term in Chinese culture, tied to concepts of health, work, and vitality. In a culture that has historically valued agriculture and manual labor, having good **体力** was essential for productivity and providing for one's family.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** In English, "strength" can often imply brute force or muscle mass (e.g., a powerlifter). **体力 (tǐlì)** is much closer to the English concept of "stamina" or "endurance." A bodybuilder might have immense **力量 (lìliàng - force)** but poor **体力 (tǐlì)** if they get winded after a short run. Conversely, a marathon runner has excellent **体力 (tǐlì)** but may not be able to lift a very heavy weight. **体力** emphasizes sustained energy output rather than a single, powerful action. It's a key indicator of one's overall **健康 (jiànkāng - health)** and ability to function effectively throughout the day.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **体力 (tǐlì)** is a common word used in a wide range of everyday contexts. It's neither overly formal nor slang.
  * **Describing Health and Fitness:** People frequently use **体力** to describe their general physical condition. You might hear `我最近体力不太好 (Wǒ zuìjìn tǐlì bù tài hǎo)` meaning "My stamina hasn't been great lately."
  * **Work and Labor:** The term is used to classify jobs. **体力劳动 (tǐlì láodòng)** means "manual labor," while **脑力劳动 (nǎolì láodòng)** means "mental labor" or "knowledge work." A physically demanding job is described as `很费体力 (hěn fèi tǐlì)`, meaning it "consumes a lot of physical energy."
  * **Sports and Exercise:** Athletes and fitness enthusiasts talk about building (**锻炼 duànliàn**) or restoring (**恢复 huīfù**) their **体力**.
  * **Age and Recovery:** It's common to hear people discussing how age affects their **体力** or how they need time to recover their **体力** after an illness.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他每天都跑步，所以**体力**很好。
    * Pinyin: Tā měitiān dōu pǎobù, suǒyǐ **tǐlì** hěn hǎo.
    * English: He runs every day, so his stamina is very good.
    * Analysis: A classic example of using **体力** to mean stamina or physical fitness. **体力好 (tǐlì hǎo)** is a very common and positive collocation.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 这个工作太累了，非常耗费**体力**。
    * Pinyin: Zhège gōngzuò tài lèi le, fēicháng hàofèi **tǐlì**.
    * English: This job is too tiring; it's extremely physically demanding.
    * Analysis: **耗费 (hàofèi)**, like **费 (fèi)**, means "to consume" or "to expend." This sentence emphasizes the draining nature of a task on one's physical energy reserves.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我生病刚好，**体力**还没有完全恢复。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ shēngbìng gāng hǎo, **tǐlì** hái méiyǒu wánquán huīfù.
    * English: I just recovered from my illness; my physical strength hasn't fully returned yet.
    * Analysis: **恢复体力 (huīfù tǐlì)**, "to recover physical strength," is a standard phrase used after illness, intense exercise, or hard work.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 搬家真不是个轻松活儿，对**体力**是个大考验。
    * Pinyin: Bānjiā zhēn búshì ge qīngsōng huór, duì **tǐlì** shì ge dà kǎoyàn.
    * English: Moving is really not an easy job; it's a big test of your physical stamina.
    * Analysis: This shows **体力** being "tested" (**考验 kǎoyàn**), highlighting its role as a personal resource that can be challenged.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 随着年龄的增长，老年人的**体力**会慢慢下降。
    * Pinyin: Suízhe niánlíng de zēngzhǎng, lǎoniánrén de **tǐlì** huì mànmàn xiàjiàng.
    * English: As people get older, their physical stamina will gradually decline.
    * Analysis: A neutral, descriptive sentence often heard in discussions about health and aging. **下降 (xiàjiàng)** means "to decline" or "decrease."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 别看他瘦，他的**体力**可充沛了。
    * Pinyin: Bié kàn tā shòu, tā de **tǐlì** kě chōngpèi le.
    * English: Don't be fooled by how thin he is; he has abundant physical energy.
    * Analysis: **充沛 (chōngpèi)** means "abundant" or "plentiful" and is a strong, positive adjective to describe **体力**. It implies a deep well of energy.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 连续工作了十个小时后，他感到**体力**不支。
    * Pinyin: Liánxù gōngzuòle shí gè xiǎoshí hòu, tā gǎndào **tǐlì** bùzhī.
    * English: After working for ten hours straight, he felt his physical strength give out (felt exhausted).
    * Analysis: **体力不支 (tǐlì bùzhī)** is a set phrase (chengyu-like) meaning "to be exhausted" or "to collapse from exhaustion." It's slightly more formal or literary.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 孩子们似乎有无限的**体力**，可以从早玩到晚。
    * Pinyin: Háizimen sìhū yǒu wúxiàn de **tǐlì**, kěyǐ cóng zǎo wán dào wǎn.
    * English: Children seem to have limitless energy; they can play from morning till night.
    * Analysis: This illustrates the common observation about children's boundless energy, for which **体力** is the perfect word.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 在开始长途徒步前，你需要好好保存**体力**。
    * Pinyin: Zài kāishǐ chángtú túbù qián, nǐ xūyào hǎohǎo bǎocún **tǐlì**.
    * English: Before starting a long hike, you need to conserve your energy properly.
    * Analysis: **保存 (bǎocún)** means "to conserve" or "to preserve." This shows **体力** as a finite resource that needs to be managed strategically.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 农民从事的是繁重的**体力**劳动。
    * Pinyin: Nóngmín cóngshì de shì fánzhòng de **tǐlì** láodòng.
    * English: Farmers are engaged in heavy manual labor.
    * Analysis: Here, **体力** acts as an adjective modifying **劳动 (láodòng - labor)**. **体力劳动 (tǐlì láodòng)** is a standard term for "manual labor."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **体力 (tǐlì) vs. 力量 (lìliàng) - Stamina vs. Strength:** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    * **体力 (tǐlì):** Endurance, the ability to sustain physical activity. Think "marathon."
    * **力量 (lìliàng):** Raw power, the ability to exert force in a moment. Think "weightlifting."
    * **Incorrect:** `他很有体力，可以举起100公斤。` (He has good stamina, he can lift 100kg.)
    * **Correct:** `他很有**力量**，可以举起100公斤。` (He has great strength, he can lift 100kg.)
    * **Correct:** `他跑完马拉松，说明他的**体力**很好。` (He finished the marathon, which shows his stamina is very good.)
  * **体力 (tǐlì) vs. 精力 (jīnglì) - Physical vs. Mental Energy:**
    * **体力 (tǐlì):** Bodily energy for physical tasks.
    * **精力 (jīnglì):** Mental energy, concentration, focus, vigor.
    * **Example:** After a day of moving furniture, you lack **体力**. After a day of studying for an exam, you lack **精力**. You can be physically fine but mentally drained (**没有精力**), or mentally sharp but physically exhausted (**没有体力**).
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * `[[力量]] (lìliàng)` - Distinction: Refers to momentary raw strength or force, not endurance.
  * `[[精力]] (jīnglì)` - Distinction: Refers to mental energy, focus, and concentration.
  * `[[力气]] (lìqi)` - Close Synonym: A more colloquial term for physical strength, often interchangeable with **力量** in simple contexts (e.g., `没力气 - no strength`). It is less commonly used for long-term stamina.
  * `[[健康]] (jiànkāng)` - Broader Concept: Health. Good **体力** is considered a key component of being **健康**.
  * `[[锻炼]] (duànliàn)` - Related Verb: To exercise or train, which is the primary way to improve one's **体力**.
  * `[[劳动]] (láodòng)` - Related Noun/Verb: Labor or work. Often specified as **体力劳动** (manual labor) or **脑力劳动** (mental labor).
  * `[[疲劳]] (píláo)` - Antonym Concept: Fatigue, exhaustion. This is the state of having low or depleted **体力**.
  * `[[恢复]] (huīfù)` - Related Verb: To recover or restore. Frequently used in the phrase **恢复体力 (huīfù tǐlì)**.
  * `[[耐力]] (nàilì)` - Close Synonym: Endurance, patience. While **体力** covers general physical energy, **耐力** specifically emphasizes the ability to endure or withstand hardship over time, making it a very close synonym in sports contexts.