Radical 15 of 20 · つくり · right

力ちから: power

Strength and effort: moving, helping, working hard, winning.

Heads 14 of the 1026 kanji taught in Japanese primary school.

字源 · WHY THIS SHAPE

From a picture to 力

1. The picture
Usually explained as a plough or a digging tool, though some read it as a flexed arm. Either way: hard work and strength.
2. On the right or the bottom
It sits on the right (動, 助) or at the bottom (努, 労) and keeps its shape.

Origins follow the commonly taught explanations. Where scholars disagree, we say so.

Strength and effort: moving, helping, working hard, winning.

加 (add) is only loosely about strength.

Every primary-school kanji filed under 力. Tap one to see its meaning.