How to say "force" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 力ちからnounForce as strength, might or vigour — physical power such as the force of a blow or the strength in one's arms. When 'force' means power or strength, this is the word you want.
- 勢いいきおいnounForce as momentum, impetus or driving energy — the force of a wave, a rushing crowd or a fast-growing trend. It suggests something in motion or on the rise, rather than strength at rest.
- 部隊ぶたいnounHere 'force' means a military body of troops — a unit, corps or squad. It is the word for an organized fighting force, not for strength, energy or coercion.
- nounThe katakana borrowing of the English word. For force as strength, momentum, a military unit or compulsion, use 力, 勢い, 部隊 or 強いる instead; フォース is seldom the word for these senses.
- 強いるしいるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb 'to force' in the sense of compelling or coercing someone — pressing them into something, often against their will. Use it when 'force' means to compel, not for the noun senses.
Use 力 for force as strength or power, 「勢い」 for momentum or driving energy, 部隊 for a military force, and 「強いる」 for forcing or compelling someone; 「フォース」 is the katakana borrowing, rarely the right choice for these senses.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 力ちからforce
- 勢いいきおいforce
- 部隊ぶたいforce
- フォースforce
- 強いるしいるto force
- 迫力はくりょくimpressiveness
- 勢力せいりょくinfluence
- 武力ぶりょくarmed might
- 強要きょうようcoercion
- 圧あつpressure
- 力感りきかんpower
- 勢威せいいforce
- 暴ぼうviolence
- 余儀なくさせるよぎなくさせるto compel
- 力ずくちからずく(brute) force
- はめるto pigeonhole (into a particular category)
- 実力じつりょくarms
- 風力ふうりょくforce (level on the Beaufort wind speed scale)
- 腕力わんりょくforce
- 矛先ほこさきforce (of an argument)
- てこagent (causing something to happen)
- 吹きかけるふきかけるto pick (a fight)
- ふっかけるto pick (a fight)
- 寄せるよせるto press
See also
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