1.
overall ability; combined strength; total capability
The sum of all abilities, skills, and resources. Refers to how strong something or someone is when all factors are considered together rather than individually.
チームの総合力で勝った。
We won with the team's overall strength.
個人の能力よりも総合力が大切だ。
Overall team capability is more important than individual ability.
我がチームは一人一人のスキルは高くないが、総合力では負けない自信がある。
Our team's individual skills aren't the highest, but we're confident we won't lose in overall capability.
Composed of 総合 (comprehensive, overall) and 力 (power, ability). Frequently used in sports commentary, business evaluations, and educational contexts to emphasize that well-rounded capability matters more than any single outstanding trait.
The word implies a holistic assessment — not just one dimension of strength but the combination of many.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 総合力で勝負する: to compete on overall strength
- 総合力を高める: to raise one's overall capability
- 総合力に優れる: to excel in overall ability
- 総合力の差: the gap in overall strength
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 実力: real ability; true capability — focuses on proven skill
- 戦力: fighting strength; lineup strength — specifically about competitive power
- 底力: latent power; hidden reserves — strength that emerges under pressure