火力(かりょく)

かりょく
noun
heat output; firepower
1. heat output; heating power; flame intensity
The strength or intensity of heat from a fire, stove, or burner. Commonly used in cooking to describe how high or low the flame is.
火力(かりょく)を強(つよ)くする。
To turn up the heat.
強(つよ)い火力(かりょく)で一気(いっき)に炒(いた)める。
Stir-fry quickly over high heat.
このコンロは火力(かりょく)が足(た)りないので、中華(ちゅうか)料理(りょうり)には向(む)かない。
This stove doesn't have enough heat output, so it's not suitable for Chinese cooking.
2. firepower; fire power (military/energy)
The destructive power of weapons, or the power generated by burning fuel for electricity generation.
火力(かりょく)発電所(はつでんしょ)。
A thermal power plant.
敵(てき)の火力(かりょく)が強(つよ)い。
The enemy's firepower is strong.
日本(にほん)の電力(でんりょく)の多(おお)くは火力(かりょく)発電(はつでん)に頼(たよ)っている。
Much of Japan's electricity depends on thermal power generation.

Composed of 火(か) (fire) + 力(りょく) (power). In everyday life, sense 1 (cooking heat) is the most frequently encountered usage. Sense 2 appears in news about energy policy and military topics.

USAGE:
In cooking, 火力(かりょく) refers to the intensity of the flame or heat source. Chinese cooking (中華(ちゅうか)料理(りょうり)) in particular demands high 火力(かりょく) for proper wok cooking.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 火力(かりょく)を上(あ)げる — to increase the heat
  • 火力(かりょく)を落(お)とす — to reduce the heat
  • 火力(かりょく)発電(はつでん) — thermal power generation
  • 火力(かりょく)発電所(はつでんしょ) — thermal power plant
  • 最大(さいだい)火力(かりょく) — maximum heat/firepower

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 火加減(ひかげん) — heat level; specifically the adjustment of flame when cooking
  • 強火(つよび) — high heat (cooking term)
  • 弱火(よわび) — low heat (cooking term)
general
Added 2026.3.27 14:09
19500/19886_karyoku