yìlì: 毅力 - Perseverance, Willpower, Grit

• Keywords: 毅力, yìlì, perseverance in Chinese, willpower in Chinese, grit, fortitude, determination, how to say perseverance in Mandarin, Chinese word for grit, endure hardship Chinese, Chinese culture
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 毅力 (yìlì), a core Chinese term for perseverance, willpower, and grit. This page breaks down the characters, explores its deep cultural significance related to enduring hardship (吃苦), and provides practical examples for modern use. Learn the difference between 毅力 (yìlì) and 坚持 (jiānchí) to speak more like a native and understand a key value in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yìlì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The power of will to persevere through difficulty; fortitude or determination.
• In a Nutshell: 毅力 (yìlì) is the inner strength or mental stamina that keeps you going when things are tough. It's not just about being patient; it’s about actively pushing forward against resistance, whether you're studying for a difficult exam, training for a marathon, or building a business from scratch. Think of it as your “grit” or “fortitude” muscle.

• 毅 (yì): This character means “resolute,” “firm,” or “unwavering.” It combines a component representing a weapon or tool (殳), suggesting forceful action, with other elements that convey a sense of solid, determined will. It points to a decision that has been made and will not be changed.
• 力 (lì): This character is a simple and ancient pictograph of a plow or a muscular arm, meaning “power,” “strength,” or “force.”
• Together, 毅力 (yìlì) literally translates to “resolute power” or “unwavering strength.” It’s the strength you use to remain firm and see a difficult task through to the end.

毅力 (yìlì) is more than just a personal attribute in Chinese culture; it's a celebrated virtue. It is deeply connected to the concept of 吃苦 (chīkǔ), which literally means “to eat bitterness.” This value holds that enduring hardship and toil without complaint is not only necessary for success but is also a sign of strong moral character. While the American concept of “grit” is a close parallel, there's a subtle difference. “Grit” is often framed as a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. 毅力 (yìlì), while also about long-term goals, places a heavier emphasis on enduring external pressures and difficult circumstances (the “bitterness” you must “eat”). It's the silent, steady force that allows a student from a poor village to study relentlessly for the national college entrance exam (高考 gāokǎo) or an entrepreneur to work 16-hour days to get their company off the ground. It is the power source for the cultural expectation to struggle and sacrifice for a better future, whether for oneself, one's family, or the nation.

毅力 (yìlì) is a formal and highly positive term. It is commonly used in contexts of education, personal development, career, and sports to praise someone's determination.

• In Education & Career: Teachers and parents use it to encourage students. Bosses use it to praise employees who overcome major obstacles on a project. It is frequently cited as a key ingredient for success in academic and professional fields.
• In Personal Development: It's used when talking about overcoming bad habits (like quitting smoking) or achieving a difficult personal goal (like learning an instrument or losing weight).
• On Social Media: You might see motivational posts or stories about celebrities or ordinary people who achieved success through their incredible 毅力 (yìlì). The connotation is always one of admiration and respect.

• Example 1:
  • 成功不仅需要智慧，更需要毅力。
  • Pinyin: Chénggōng bùjǐn xūyào zhìhuì, gèng xūyào yìlì.
  • English: Success requires not only intelligence, but even more so, perseverance.
  • Analysis: This is a common inspirational phrase, highlighting that 毅力 (yìlì) is considered as important, or even more important, than natural talent.
• Example 2:
  • 跑完马拉松需要惊人的毅力。
  • Pinyin: Pǎo wán mǎlāsōng xūyào jīngrén de yìlì.
  • English: Finishing a marathon requires astonishing perseverance.
  • Analysis: A perfect example showing 毅力 (yìlì) in the context of physical endurance. “惊人的” (jīngrén de) means “astonishing” or “amazing,” a common adjective to describe a high degree of 毅力 (yìlì).
• Example 3:
  • 他是一个有毅力的人，从不轻易放弃。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè yǒu yìlì de rén, cóng bù qīngyì fàngqì.
  • English: He is a person with great willpower; he never gives up easily.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how to describe a person as having the quality of 毅力 (yìlì). The structure “有 + 毅力 + 的 + 人” (yǒu yìlì de rén) is very common.
• Example 4:
  • 如果没有毅力，你很难学好一门外语。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu yìlì, nǐ hěn nán xuéhǎo yī mén wàiyǔ.
  • English: If you don't have perseverance, it's very difficult to master a foreign language.
  • Analysis: This is directly applicable to language learners, framing 毅力 (yìlì) as a prerequisite for success in a long-term learning journey.
• Example 5:
  • 他的康复过程漫长而痛苦，全靠毅力支撑。
  • Pinyin: Tā de kāngfù guòchéng màncháng ér tòngkǔ, quán kào yìlì zhīchēng.
  • English: His recovery process was long and painful, supported entirely by his willpower.
  • Analysis: Here, 毅力 (yìlì) is presented as a supporting force (支撑 zhīchēng) that gets someone through a physically and emotionally draining experience.
• Example 6:
  • 创业者必须具备创新精神和百折不挠的毅力。
  • Pinyin: Chuàngyèzhě bìxū jùbèi chuàngxīn jīngshén hé bǎizhébùnáo de yìlì.
  • English: Entrepreneurs must possess an innovative spirit and indomitable perseverance.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a four-character idiom, 百折不挠 (bǎizhébùnáo - to be undaunted by repeated setbacks), to modify 毅力 (yìlì), common in formal or written contexts.
• Example 7:
  • 戒烟需要极大的毅力。
  • Pinyin: Jièyān xūyào jí dà de yìlì.
  • English: Quitting smoking requires enormous willpower.
  • Analysis: A very practical, everyday example. “极大” (jí dà) means “enormous” or “extreme,” emphasizing the high level of mental strength needed.
• Example 8:
  • 老师称赞小明有毅力，每天都坚持练习弹钢琴。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī chēngzàn Xiǎomíng yǒu yìlì, měitiān dōu jiānchí liànxí tán gāngqín.
  • English: The teacher praised Xiaoming for having perseverance, practicing piano every single day.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the relationship between the noun 毅力 (yìlì) (the quality) and the verb 坚持 (jiānchí - to persist), the action that demonstrates the quality.
• Example 9:
  • 面对失败，我们不能失去毅力和信心。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì shībài, wǒmen bùnéng shīqù yìlì hé xìnxīn.
  • English: In the face of failure, we cannot lose our perseverance and confidence.
  • Analysis: This shows 毅力 (yìlì) as a resource that can be “lost” (失去 shīqù), similar to how one might lose hope or confidence.
• Example 10:
  • 这项研究考验的是科学家的毅力，而不是他们的才华。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng yánjiū kǎoyàn de shì kēxuéjiā de yìlì, ér bùshì tāmen de cáihuá.
  • English: This research tests the scientists' fortitude, not their talent.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a direct contrast between 毅力 (yìlì) and才华 (cáihuá - talent), reinforcing the cultural idea that hard work and endurance are often more important than innate ability.

A major pitfall for English speakers is confusing the noun 毅力 (yìlì) with the verb 坚持 (jiānchí).

• 毅力 (yìlì) is the *quality* of perseverance. It's the “what.”
• 坚持 (jiānchí) is the *action* of persevering or persisting. It's the “how.”

Think of it like this: You use your 毅力 (yìlì) to 坚持 (jiānchí). Incorrect Usage:

• `我每天毅力学习中文。` (Wǒ měitiān yìlì xuéxí Zhōngwén.)
• Why it's wrong: You cannot “perseverance” something. 毅力 (yìlì) is a noun, but it's being used as a verb here.

Correct Usage:

• `我每天坚持学习中文。` (Wǒ měitiān jiānchí xuéxí Zhōngwén.) - I persist in studying Chinese every day. (Using the verb)
• `学好中文需要很大的毅力。` (Xué hǎo Zhōngwén xūyào hěn dà de yìlì.) - To learn Chinese well requires great perseverance. (Using the noun)

• 坚持 (jiānchí) - (Verb) To persist; to persevere. This is the action that is powered by 毅力.
• 恒心 (héngxīn) - (Noun) Constancy; perseverance. Very similar to 毅力, but with a stronger connotation of steadiness and consistency over a long period.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - (Verb phrase) “To eat bitterness”; to endure hardship. The cultural practice that requires and builds 毅力.
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - (Verb) To strive; to struggle (for a goal). A powerful action that requires immense 毅力.
• 耐心 (nàixīn) - (Noun) Patience. Different from 毅力; patience is about calm waiting, while 毅力 is about active struggle against difficulty.
• 坚强 (jiānqiáng) - (Adjective) Strong; firm. Describes a person's overall character, of which 毅力 is a key component.
• 不屈不挠 (bùqū bùnáo) - (Idiom) Unyielding; indomitable. A more literary and powerful way to describe the spirit of 毅力.
• 放弃 (fàngqì) - (Verb) To give up. The direct antonym of the action (坚持) that 毅力 enables.