muscle strength
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muscle strength
The physical strength produced by the contraction of muscles and used to perform work or move the body.
Früher wurden schwere Lasten oft nur mit reiner Muskelkraft bewegt.
In the past, heavy loads were often moved using pure muscle strength alone.
'Muskelkraft' (muscle strength) is a compound noun made from 'der Muskel' (the muscle) and 'die Kraft' (strength/power). So it literally means 'die Kraft der Muskeln' (the strength of the muscles).
Für diesen Job braucht man viel Muskelkraft.
You need a lot of muscle strength for this job.
The word is very often used with the preposition 'mit' (with), frequently in the phrase 'mit reiner Muskelkraft' (with pure muscle strength), to emphasize the contrast with mechanical help.
Das Boot wird nur mit Muskelkraft angetrieben.
The boat is powered only by muscle strength.
The component '-kraft' is found in many German words and always refers to a form of energy or strength. When you see '-kraft', it is often about the source of the energy, as in 'Windkraft' (wind power) or 'Wasserkraft' (hydropower).
Das Fahrrad ist ein gutes Beispiel für Fortbewegung durch Muskelkraft.
The bicycle is a good example of movement powered by muscle strength.
strength / force
'die Kraft' and 'die Muskelkraft' can both mean physical strength. But 'Kraft' is more general: it can also refer to energy in the whole body, for example after illness or when someone is tired. 'Muskelkraft' is more precise and means the strength that really comes from the muscles, for example when lifting, pulling, or pushing. The words are easy to confuse because in everyday language people often simply say 'Kraft', even when muscle strength is meant. If you are speaking generally about strength, 'Kraft' is enough. If it should be clear that the muscles are doing the work, 'Muskelkraft' is more precise.
In der Werkstatt bewegen wir die Maschine nicht mit Muskelkraft, sondern mit einem Kran.
In the workshop, we do not move the machine with muscle strength, but with a crane.
Für den Umzug braucht Max viel Kraft, weil die Kisten sehr schwer sind.
Max needs a lot of strength for the move because the boxes are very heavy.