1.
power; might; force
Great force or strength, especially the destructive or impressive power of something such as a weapon, natural phenomenon, or technique.
この爆弾の威力はすさまじい。
The power of this bomb is tremendous.
台風の威力で木が倒れた。
Trees were knocked down by the force of the typhoon.
この新型エンジンは従来のものより威力が大きい。
This new engine has greater power than the conventional one.
2.
authority; influence; coercive power
The power to compel or intimidate others, often through one's position, status, or implied threat.
威力業務妨害で逮捕された。
He was arrested for forcible obstruction of business.
社長の名前を出すと、威力を発揮する。
Dropping the company president's name exerts considerable influence.
暴力団が威力を背景に金を要求した。
The crime syndicate demanded money backed by intimidation.
Combines 威 (intimidation/authority) and 力 (power/force). The word carries a sense of overwhelming or impressive power, whether physical or social.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 威力を発揮する: exert power/influence
- 威力が大きい: have great power
- 威力業務妨害: forcible obstruction of business (legal term)
- 破壊威力: destructive power
- 威力を示す: demonstrate power
LEGAL USAGE:
威力業務妨害 is a specific criminal charge in Japanese law, referring to obstructing someone's work through force, threats, or intimidation.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 力: power, strength — the most general and common word for power; lacks the connotation of impressiveness or intimidation
- 権力: political power, authority — specifically refers to institutional or governmental power
- 勢力: influence, power base — refers to the sphere or extent of one's influence, especially of organizations or groups