劲
jìn
strength
energy; enthusiasm; spirit; mood; expression; interest; CL:把[ba3]; Taiwan pr. [jing4]
a picture of 劲 → force, drive, and the spirit behind effort
力 is the sole semantic anchor here, evoking physical and inner drive. The character extends naturally from raw muscular force to enthusiasm, mood, and expressive energy.
他跑了很久，腿上没有劲了。
tā pǎo le hěn jiǔ, tuǐ shàng méi yǒu jìn le。
he ran for a long time and his legs have no strength left.
看她干活儿那股劲，真让人佩服。
kàn tā gàn huór nà gǔ jìn, zhēn ràng rén pèi fú。
seeing that spirit she puts into her work is truly admirable.
Words with 劲
Q劲
q jìn
springy mouthfeel
冲劲
chòng jìn
dynamism
醋劲
cù jìn
jealousy (in love)
醋劲儿
cù jìn r
erhua variant of 醋勁|醋劲[cu4 jin4]
铆劲儿
mǎo jìn r
to apply all one's strength in a burst of effort
铆足劲儿
mǎo zú jìn r
to exert all one's strength
钻劲
zuān jìn
application to the task
韧劲
rèn jìn
tenacity
一个劲
yī gè jìn
continuously
一个劲儿
yī gè jìn r
erhua variant of 一個勁|一个劲[yi1 ge4 jin4]
下死劲
xià sǐ jìn
to do one's utmost
不对劲
bù duì jìn
not in good condition