Quote Originally Posted by Spose' View Post
Everytime I try to read a tweet in Japanese I realize just how horrible I am at understanding it. Last night someone used the term　火力 which means heating power/steam power according to a site I use to help me understand and I just didn't understand the context behind it. I guess I shouldn't expect much since I'm only like 4-5 weeks into learning.
Use Rikaichan if you're on Firefox, Rikaikun if you're on Chrome.

力 is often used as suffix to indicate the power of the thing it is used after, or even an ability/personal trait if you describe a person with it. In that vein you have 想像 (imagination) and 想像力 (power of one's imagination/how well someone can visualize things), 説得 (persuade) and 説得力 (coercive/persuasive power) or even 決断 (decision/determination) and 決断力 (decisiveness) etc.

You'll have fun with kanji compounds in no time!