Help me understand the Genki-Dama

[Potential]

I have been wondering for a while how the Genki-Dama works. What confuses me is that while it's a ki attack, it's called genki. Considering now that genki isn't exactly the same thing as ki, is there a reason why Akira Toriyama preferred to call it genki? For example, does the Genki-Dama drain the genki (life force) and form it into ki (inner energy), or does it just absorb ki directly?

[DemonKingPiccolo]

I don't know if anyone can really answer this question, there's surprisingly little information on the Genki dama.

[Coola Yagami]

It drains the life force.... I mean even the subtitles have Goku saying "give me some of your genki". That's why the humans were so tired after donating their energy to the Super Genki Dama near the end of DBZ and Kaioh Sama told Vegeta that making them donate any more would kill 'em.

[Terra-jin]

I'd guess that the distinction between the two is that ki is the general energy that is used in attacks and such, and that genki is the energy that beings need to live. So, when referring to the life-force of a being, it's called genki when speaking about the literal "life energy" he needs to live and ki is used when speaking about life-force as a weapon / defense.

Does that make sense? It at least follows with the idea that the Genki Dama technique emphasizes on using "life energy" rather than just energy.

[Coola Yagami]

Why were some of my words in red? Oh well.. what you said makes sense. That's why Goku uses the Genki Dama whenever he absolutely no power left.

[SatoSky]

It's probably Mike correcting your grammar and spelling mistakes.