力ちからをつける

ち

か

ら

を

つ

け

る

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

build up strength; get stronger

Intransitive use: describes oneself or a subject gaining physical or mental strength, often through effort or training.

毎まい日にち運うん動どうして力ちからをつけたい。
I want to build up my strength by exercising every day.
彼かれは最さい近きん力ちからをつけてきた。
He has been getting stronger lately.

2

expression, ichidan verb

give strength; encourage; cheer up

Transitive use: to empower, encourage, or emotionally support someone else. Often used when one person's words or actions give another person strength.

友とも達だちの言こと葉ばが私わたしに力ちからを付つけてくれた。
My friend's words gave me strength.
応おう援えんメッセージが彼かの女じょに力ちからをつけた。
The supportive message gave her strength.

Written forms

力ちからをつける
Standard kanji spelling using つける in kana; the most common written form.
力ちからを付つける
Alternate spelling using the kanji 付ける; less common but still seen.

Kanji

力power, strength, strong
付adhere, attach, refer to

Similar words

力ちからになる
力になる also means 'to be a source of strength' or 'to help,' but it is more about being helpful or supportive in a general sense, whereas 力をつける (transitive) focuses on actively giving strength or encouragement to someone.
元げん気きづける
元気づける specifically means 'to cheer someone up' or 'to lift their spirits,' while 力をつける (transitive) can imply giving emotional or mental strength more broadly, not just cheering up.

Etymology

Compound of 力 (chikara, 'strength') + を (particle) + つける (tsukeru, 'to attach' or 'to apply'). The literal sense of 'attaching strength' evolved into the idiomatic meanings of building up one's own strength or giving strength to others.