原 動 力(げんどうりょく)

げんどうりょく

noun

driving force; motive power

1. driving force; motive power; impetus

The fundamental force or motivation that causes something to move, develop, or progress. Used both literally for mechanical power and figuratively for motivation.

好奇心(こうきしん)が成長(せいちょう)の原動力(げんどうりょく)だ。

Curiosity is the driving force behind growth.

技術(ぎじゅつ)革新(かくしん)が経済(けいざい)発展(はってん)の原動力(げんどうりょく)になった。

Technological innovation became the driving force of economic development.

家族(かぞく)への愛情(あいじょう)が、彼(かれ)が頑張(がんば)る原動力(げんどうりょく)になっている。

Love for his family is what drives him to keep going.

Composed of 原(げん) (original/source), 動(どう) (movement), and 力(りょく) (force). Originally a mechanical/physics term for motive power, but now far more commonly used figuratively to describe what motivates or drives progress.

Common collocations

原動力(げんどうりょく)になる: to become the driving force
原動力(げんどうりょく)となる: to serve as the driving force (more formal)
経済(けいざい)の原動力(げんどうりょく): the engine of the economy
成長(せいちょう)の原動力(げんどうりょく): the driving force of growth

Similar words

動力(どうりょく): power, motive force — more technical/mechanical
推進力(すいしんりょく): propulsion, driving force — emphasizes forward movement
モチベーション: motivation — loanword, used for personal motivation
原因(げんいん): cause — simply what caused something, without the implication of ongoing energy

Related Words

Compare: 推進力(すいしんりょく) (propulsion, driving force)

Compare: モチベーション (motivation)

Compare: 原因(げんいん) (cause)

Compare: 牽引力(けんいんりょく) (pulling power)

general

Added 2026.3.30 3:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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