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March 24, 2026
激励(激勵)jīlì(ji1li4)
激励 (jīlì) means to encourage or motivate someone to take action. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal development, education, and workplace dynamics, where one seeks to inspire others to achieve their goals or improve their performance.
Frequency#5776DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激励 is often associated with collectivism, where motivating others is seen as a communal responsibility. This is reflected in the emphasis on teamwork and mutual support in educational and work environments.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 激 (jī) as a 'jolt' that energizes you, and 励 (lì) as 'lifting' someone up. Together, they create a vivid image of giving someone a boost or encouragement, like a coach cheering on a team.
Meanings of 激励
jīlì(ji1li4)
1to encourage
2to urge
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About 激励
激励Simplified
激勵Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5776Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 激励
Podcast: 激励
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AI Study Notes for 激励
Quick Contrast
激发 (jīfā) — use 激励 when focusing on encouraging someone, while 激发 emphasizes stimulating or arousing a response.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 激 (jī) as a 'jolt' that energizes you, and 励 (lì) as 'lifting' someone up. Together, they create a vivid image of giving someone a boost or encouragement, like a coach cheering on a team.
Usage Notes
激励 is generally used in a positive context, but be mindful of its tone. It's more commonly used in formal settings such as business or educational environments. Common collocations include '激励措施' (encouragement measures) and '自我激励' (self-motivation).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 vocabulary word, 激励 connects to other terms related to motivation and encouragement. Focus on how it can be used in motivational speeches or discussions about personal growth.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激励 is often associated with collectivism, where motivating others is seen as a communal responsibility. This is reflected in the emphasis on teamwork and mutual support in educational and work environments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 激励 with 鼓励 (gǔlì); while both mean to encourage, 激励 implies a stronger, more action-oriented motivation. For example, saying '我激励他' is correct for 'I motivate him,' whereas '我鼓励他' would imply a softer encouragement.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 激励
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Grammar Patterns of 激励
激励 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He is a witty man, and an inspiration to all of us.
Cultural Notes for 激励
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激励 is often associated with collectivism, where motivating others is seen as a communal responsibility. This is reflected in the emphasis on teamwork and mutual support in educational and work environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about 激励
You can say '老师激励学生努力学习' (The teacher encourages the students to study hard).
A synonym is 鼓励 (gǔlì), which also means to encourage.
Yes, though it is more common in formal contexts, you can use it in everyday conversation when discussing motivation.
