馬力(ばりき)

ばりき
noun
horsepower; energy; vigor
1. horsepower (unit of power)
A unit of measurement for engine power and mechanical output.
このエンジンは200馬力(ばりき)ある。
This engine has 200 horsepower.
馬力(ばりき)の高(たか)い車(くるま)がほしい。
I want a car with high horsepower.
軽自動車(けいじどうしゃ)は馬力(ばりき)が小(ちい)さいので坂道(さかみち)はきつい。
Light cars have low horsepower, so hills are tough.
2. energy; vigor; drive
Used figuratively to describe a person's stamina, effort, or determination to get things done.
締(し)め切(き)り前(まえ)は馬力(ばりき)をかけて働(はたら)く。
I work with full steam before a deadline.
あの人(ひと)は馬力(ばりき)がある。
That person has a lot of energy.
試験(しけん)まであと一週間(いっしゅうかん)だから、馬力(ばりき)をかけて勉強(べんきょう)しよう。
There's only one week until the exam, so let's study with full force.

馬力(ばりき) has both a technical meaning (horsepower as a unit) and a figurative meaning (personal energy and drive).

WORD FORMATION:
馬(ば) (horse) + 力(りき) (power)

SENSE 1 — TECHNICAL:

Used as a unit of engine/motor power, equivalent to English "horsepower" (HP).

  • 200馬力(ばりき) (200 horsepower)
  • 馬力(ばりき)の高(たか)い車(くるま) (a high-horsepower car)

SENSE 2 — FIGURATIVE:

Very common in everyday conversation to describe energy and effort.

  • 馬力(ばりき)をかける (to go full steam, put in full effort)
  • 馬力(ばりき)がある (to have great energy/stamina)

NOTE:
The figurative sense is more frequently heard than the technical one. 馬力(ばりき)をかける is idiomatic and does not literally relate to engines.

general
Added 2026.3.2 18:36 · Revised 2026.3.30 12:20
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