The Meaning of jitsuryoku [実力] In Japanese

実力
じつりょく
Romaji: jitsuryoku N3

What does 実力 mean?

Translation and Meaning

actual ability, competence, capability, true power

Definition

What does 実力 mean? 実力 denotes the level of actual ability or power a person or thing demonstrates, beyond potential or reputation, referring to the concrete skills, performance, and strength one can reliably show in tasks, tests, or competitions.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Actual skill level in a given field, especially when performance is compared to expectations or others
  • Demonstrated performance under challenging conditions, such as tests or competitions
  • Merit or standing based on verifiable ability, rather than fame or promise
  • In sports and competition, the capacity to exert power or demonstrate superiority

Etymology

じつりょく is the standard on’yomi reading formed from 実 and 力, with 実 meaning real or true and 力 meaning power or strength; the compound conveys the sense of real, demonstrable power.

Origin

From Sino-Japanese borrowing of kanji compounds, 実力 was adopted into Japanese and became common in modern contexts such as education, sports, and business to denote tangible ability.

Composition

  • 実: real, true, actual
  • 力: power, strength, effort

Usage

Used as a noun to denote actual ability; in formal contexts like exams, workplaces, and sports commentary, 実力 emphasizes demonstrable skill. In casual speech you might say 実力がある or 実力を出す; common collocations include 実力を発揮する, 実力テスト, 実力差.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: Real power — imagine a gauge labeled 実力 that only rises when you perform.

Variations

  • 能力 (のうりょく) — ability, capacity
  • 技量 (ぎりょう) — technical skill and competence
  • 力量 (りきりょう) — strength, capacity
  • 実力差 (じつりょくさ) — gap in ability

Example Phrases

  • 試験 で 彼の 実力 が ようやく 分かった。
    shiken de kare no jitsuryoku ga youyaku wakatta.
    In the exam, his real ability finally showed.
    Lista:
    • 試験 (shiken) – exam
    • で (de) – in
    • 彼の (kare no) – his
    • 実力 (jitsuryoku) – ability
    • が (ga) – (subject marker)
    • ようやく (youyaku) – finally
    • 分かった (wakatta) – understood
    Core nuance: 「実力」 means actual ability, proven by performance; here it functions as the subject marked by が.
実力