激励

• Reading: げきれい
• Romaji: gekirei
• Kanji breakdown: 激 (geki) — violent, intense, extreme; 励 (rei) — encourage, strive
• Pronunciation: /ge.ki.ɾeː/

Meaning

Strong encouragement; urging someone on; inspiring greater effort.

A する verb meaning to encourage strongly or to spur someone on. More forceful and formal than 励ます (to encourage). Often used in business, sports, and military contexts. Common patterns include 激励する (to encourage), 激励の言葉 (words of encouragement), and 激励会 (pep rally).

Examples

1. 監督が選手たちを激励してから試合が始まった。 The coach encouraged the players before the game began.
2. 社長の激励の言葉に社員たちは奮い立った。 The employees were fired up by the president's encouraging words.
3. 落ち込んでいる後輩を激励するために食事に誘った。 I invited my discouraged junior colleague out to eat to cheer them up.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, business, military

Tone: motivational

Origin & History

Compound of 激 (violent, intense, extreme) + 励 (encourage, strive). Literally 'intense encouragement,' implying vigorous and passionate support.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal