鼓励

• Pinyin: gǔ lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 鼓 = drum/to inspire; 励 = to encourage

Meaning

To encourage; encouragement. Giving someone confidence and motivation.

Used both as verb and noun. Implies positive support, urging someone forward, or giving them confidence to act. Common in education, parenting, workplace, and personal relationships.

Examples

1. 老师的鼓励让我有了继续学习的动力。 The teacher's encouragement gave me the motivation to continue studying.
2. 家人一直鼓励我追求自己的梦想。 My family has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
3. 公司鼓励员工提出创新建议。 The company encourages employees to put forward innovative suggestions.

Usage Guide

Context: education, parenting, workplace, sports

Tone: supportive

Do Say

• 谢谢你的鼓励！(Thanks for your encouragement!)
• 我们应该多鼓励孩子。(We should encourage children more.)

Don't Say

• 鼓励他去犯罪 (鼓励 has positive connotations — for urging negative actions, use 怂恿 or 唆使)

Origin & History

Compound of 鼓 (drum, to inspire) + 励 (to encourage), like beating a drum to inspire troops.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal