原動力|げんどうりょくgendouryoku[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounmotive power; driving force

• Synonym推力すいりょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. A physics term for the thrust that moves planes and ships; 「原動力」 is mostly figurative.
• Synonym駆動くどうNeutralNeutral. Transmitting power to run machinery, as in 「四輪駆動」; 「原動力」 is the source of that power.
• Synonym駆動力くどうりょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. The power that drives machines and vehicles; 「原動力」 can also be used figuratively for the source of an activity.
• Synonym推進力すいしんりょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. The power to push something forward or carry it out; 「原動力」 stresses the underlying source of the drive.
• Related推進すいしんWrittenWritten/formal prose. The act of pushing a plan or project forward, as in 「計画を推進する」; 「原動力」 is the underlying force that drives it.
• Antonym抵抗力ていこうりょくNeutralNeutral. The force that resists an outside force or fights off disease — the opposite of the driving 「原動力」.

Use 「原動力」 for the fundamental force behind an activity or development, as in 「成長の原動力」. For the power that drives machines use 「駆動力」; for propulsive force use 「推進力」 or 「推力」. The opposite is 「抵抗力」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 機械きかいを作動さどうさせる元もととなる力ちから。
2. 何なんかの活動かつどうするにあたっての元もととなる力ちから。