Definition
不力 (bú lì) means 'not doing one's best' or 'inept' in performance, often used in formal evaluations of work, management, or measures. Unlike 懒惰 (lǎn duò), which describes a lazy character, 不力 focuses on inadequate effort or results in a specific task. It also differs from 乏力 (fá lì), which means lacking physical or metaphorical strength, while 不力 implies a failure to meet expectations.
adjective
not doing one's bestnot exerting oneselfinept (in performance)
Easily confused
- 马力mǎ lìlook-alike(classifier) horsepower (unit of power)
- 不利bù lìsound-alikeunfavorable, disadvantageous, harmful
Examples
- 不力，。Yóuyú guǎnlǐ bú lì, zhège xiàngmù shībài le.Due to poor management, this project failed.
- 不力，。Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng biǎoxiàn bú lì, yī bú lì, yīncǐ bèi jiàngzhí le.He underperformed at work and was therefore demoted.
- 不力。Zhè cì shìgù de yuányīn zhī yī shì ānquán cuòshī bú lì.One of the reasons for this accident was inadequate safety measures.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.