武力

• Pinyin: wǔ lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 武 = 止 + 戈 (stop + spear — originally meaning to stop weapons; martial power); 力 = a flexed arm showing muscle (strength, force, power)

Meaning

Military force; armed power; physical violence used to achieve political or strategic ends. Refers to the use of armed strength rather than diplomacy or negotiation.

Common in international relations, historical analysis, legal discourse, and political science. Frequently contrasted with 外交 (diplomacy) and 谈判 (negotiation). 诉诸武力 (resorting to force) and 武力威胁 (threat of force) are standard phrases in international law.

Examples

1. 国际社会普遍认为，任何争端都应通过外交渠道解决，而非诉诸武力。 The international community generally believes that any dispute should be resolved through diplomatic channels, not by resorting to force.
2. 这段历史深刻揭示了单纯依赖武力统治而忽视民心的政权终将走向覆灭。 This chapter of history clearly shows that a regime that relies solely on military might while ignoring public support is doomed to collapse.
3. 该国宪法明确禁止以武力方式解决领土争端，并倡导和平协商。 The country’s constitution explicitly forbids settling territorial disputes by force and advocates peaceful negotiation.

Usage Guide

Context: international relations, history, law, politics, military studies

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 联合国宪章规定，成员国不得以武力威胁或使用武力侵犯别国领土完整或政治独立。(The United Nations Charter states that member states must not threaten with force or use force to violate another country's territorial integrity or political independence.)
• 历史表明，若帝国只靠武力征服，却没有有效治理，往往在胜利后不久就会内部崩溃。(History shows that if an empire relies only on military conquest and lacks effective governance, it often collapses from within soon after victory.)

Don't Say

• 武力 for individual physical strength or personal combat — use 体力 for physical strength or 武艺 for martial skills; 武力 specifically refers to organised military or armed force used for political purposes

Origin & History

武 (military, martial) + 力 (strength, force) — military or martial strength

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal