馬力 Horsepower

Meaning

Primary

Horsepower

Word Type

noun

Explanation

This word was probably made pretty recently. A horse's power? That is horsepower.

Reading

ばりき

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. Since 力 has two common on'yomi readings, here's a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:

Cars with high horsepower are usually driven by Ricky (りき). Ricky is well-known for loving all cars with a lot of horsepower, so he's often seen driving around in fancy sports cars. Vroom vroom Ricky!

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 馬力を〜

  馬力をかける

  to apply all one’s energy to something, to put on speed

  馬力を上げる

  to increase the horsepower

  馬力をアップする

  to up the horsepower

• 〜馬力

  二十馬力

  twenty horsepower

  １５０万馬力

  1.5 million horsepower

  エンジン馬力

  engine horsepower

Context Sentences

スポーツカーは、高い馬力を持っています。

Sports cars have high horsepower.

会社用に馬力があるエアコンを買った。

I bought an air conditioner that has some horsepower for the company.

一馬力の力の大きさは一体どのくらいですか？

How much power is actually in one horsepower?

Kanji Composition

1. 馬

   ば Horse
2. 力

   りょく Power