Meaning

Primary

Powerless

Alternatives

Powerlessness, Helplessness

Word Type

noun, な adjective, の adjective

Explanation

When your power is nothing you are powerless.

Reading

むりょく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well. You also can know that uses its りょく reading because when you tried to pick up a tiny rock (りょく) you couldn't, because you were powerless.

Context

Context Sentences

親は無力ですよ。子が大きくなると、してあげられることなんて、ほとんどありません。

Parents are helpless. When a child grows up, there is very little you can do for them.

自分の無力さを知り、情けない気持ちでいっぱいになりました。

I was filled with a sense of shame as I realized how helpless I was.

できないことが多すぎて無力感がハンパないですが、とにかく今日できることをやっていきます。

There are too many things I can't do, and I feel incredibly powerless, but I'll do what I can today, no matter what.

Kanji Composition