牽引力(けんいんりょく)

けんいんりょく
noun
pulling power; traction; driving force
1. pulling power; traction (physical force)
The physical force used to pull or tow something, such as a vehicle or load.
このエンジンは牽引力(けんいんりょく)が強(つよ)い。
This engine has strong pulling power.
大型(おおがた)トラックには十分(じゅうぶん)な牽引力(けんいんりょく)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Large trucks require sufficient traction.
路面(ろめん)が凍結(とうけつ)すると牽引力(けんいんりょく)が大幅(おおはば)に低下(ていか)する。
When the road surface freezes, traction drops significantly.
2. driving force; leadership pull (figurative)
The ability of a person, organization, or idea to draw others along and lead progress, used metaphorically.
彼(かれ)のリーダーシップが改革(かいかく)の牽引力(けんいんりょく)になった。
His leadership became the driving force of the reform.
IT産業(さんぎょう)が経済(けいざい)成長(せいちょう)の牽引力(けんいんりょく)を担(にな)っている。
The IT industry is serving as the driving force of economic growth.
新興(しんこう)市場(しじょう)が世界(せかい)経済(けいざい)の牽引力(けんいんりょく)として注目(ちゅうもく)されている。
Emerging markets are drawing attention as a driving force for the global economy.

Composed of 牽引(けんいん) (towing/pulling) + 力(りょく) (force/power). The physical meaning (sense 1) is used in automotive and engineering contexts, while the figurative meaning (sense 2) is common in business and political discourse.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 牽引力(けんいんりょく)が強(つよ)い: to have strong pulling power
  • 牽引力(けんいんりょく)を発揮(はっき)する: to exert traction/driving force
  • 牽引力(けんいんりょく)を担(にな)う: to serve as a driving force
  • 牽引力(けんいんりょく)が低下(ていか)する: traction/momentum drops

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 推進力(すいしんりょく): propulsive force; driving power — pushes from behind, while 牽引力(けんいんりょく) pulls from the front
  • 原動力(げんどうりょく): motive force; prime mover — emphasizes the origin of energy rather than the direction
  • 求心力(きゅうしんりょく): centripetal force; power to attract — emphasizes drawing people/things to a center
general
Added 2026.4.21 19:25
24500/24849_keninryoku