Proverb / Kotowaza
団結は力なり
Great strength is achieved when many people work together as a single unit.
Unity is power
Quick Answer
Great strength is achieved when many people work together as a single unit.
- Literal Image
- Unity is power
- Closest Equivalent
- Unity is strength
- How to Use It
- This expression is used to highlight the value of teamwork and collective action in sports, business projects, or community efforts.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes that collective cooperation and unity produce far greater results than the sum of individual efforts. When people coordinate their actions and goals, they become more resilient and effective in achieving their objectives.
Literal Image
Unity is power
Equivalent Proverbs
Unity is strength
A direct translation of the same concept.
United we stand, divided we fall
Emphasizes the necessity of staying together to avoid failure.
How to Use It
This expression is used to highlight the value of teamwork and collective action in sports, business projects, or community efforts.
Tone
Encouraging and instructive.
Examples
ライバルチームは選手それぞれの能力は高いが、チームワークがない。我々は団結は力なりを信条に練習してきた。
The rival team has high individual abilities, but they lack teamwork. We have been training with the conviction that unity is strength.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of nouns like danketsu and chikara, but the classical 'nari' copula is literary.
団結
だんけつ / danketsu
unity, union
力
ちから / chikara
strength, power
なり
nari
is/are (classical copula)
Usage Profile
Usage note: Over-reliance on this phrase can sometimes overlook individual concerns within a group.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as referring only to physical force; it refers to the strategic and collective advantage of a group.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression is believed to originate from the Latin maxim 'In unitate robur' (In unity there is strength). It shares a similar philosophy with the 'Parable of the Three Arrows,' which teaches that while a single arrow is easily broken, several arrows bundled together are strong.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.