生命力|せいめいりょくseimeiryoku

1. nounvitality; (one's) life force

• SynonymバイタリティNeutralLoanword for abundant energy and drive; most often describes a person who is energetic and bold. For a plant or animal's tenacious hold on life, 「生命力」 is the word.
• Synonym活力かつりょくNeutralThe driving force behind activity, as in 「社会の活力」; used of organizations and the economy. 「生命力」 stresses the resilience to survive.
• Synonym生気せいきNeutralThe life and spirit that show through in someone's appearance, as in 「生気のない顔」; it is about outward radiance rather than survival power.
• Related元気げんきCasualColloquial and by far the most common everyday word: being in good spirits and healthy. It describes how someone is right now, not a survival instinct.
• Related気迫きはくNeutralUnflinching spirit or drive that faces a challenge head-on, as in 「気迫のこもったプレー」; the emphasis is on fighting spirit.
• Related活気かっきNeutralLiveliness and bustle, said mostly of places and atmospheres, as in 「活気のある街」, but also of people; it is about energy in the air, not survival.
• Related気力きりょくNeutralThe mental strength to see things through to the end, as in 「気力が尽きる」; the focus is on willpower rather than the life force itself.
• Antonym無気力むきりょくNeutralThe antonym: listless and without drive, the opposite of being full of vitality.

Use 「生命力」 for the tenacious power of living things to survive and grow, as in 「雑草の生命力」. For a person's drive say 「バイタリティ」, for organizations 「活力」, for lively scenes 「活気」; the antonym is 「無気力」.

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

1. 生いきる力ちから。