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鞭策 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鞭策biāncèto spur onHSK 7, n, rank #24399, Hard
鞭策biāncèto urge onHSK 7, n, rank #24399, Hard
鞭策biāncèto encourage sb (e.g. to make progress)HSK 7, n, rank #24399, Hard
biāncè(bian1ce4) T1
  1. 1to spur on
  2. 2to urge on
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March 24, 2026
鞭策biāncè(bian1ce4)

鞭策 (biān cè) means to spur on or encourage someone to make progress, often in a motivational context. It is commonly used in educational or professional settings, where one person is urging another to achieve their goals or improve their performance.

Frequency#24399DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of encouragement often ties back to the value placed on hard work and perseverance, especially in education and career paths where competition is high.

Memory Tip

Imagine a coach with a whip (鞭) urging their athletes to run faster. The 'whip' symbolizes the motivation and drive behind '鞭策', while the sound 'biān' reminds you of the 'spurring' action.

Meanings of 鞭策

biāncè(bian1ce4)
1to spur on
2to urge on
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 鞭策

鞭策Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#24399Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 鞭策

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Podcast: 鞭策

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AI Study Notes for 鞭策

Quick Contrast

激励 (jīlì) vs 鞭策 (biāncè): Use 鞭策 when emphasizing a more forceful or direct encouragement, while 激励 conveys a sense of inspiration or motivation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a coach with a whip (鞭) urging their athletes to run faster. The 'whip' symbolizes the motivation and drive behind '鞭策', while the sound 'biān' reminds you of the 'spurring' action.

Usage Notes

鞭策 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more prevalent in motivational or competitive scenarios. Be careful not to confuse it with similar terms like 激励 (jīlì), which focuses more on encouragement than spurring action. Common collocations include '鞭策自己' (spur oneself on) and '鞭策他人' (urge others on).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 鞭策 connects to other verbs related to motivation and encouragement, such as 激励 (jīlì) and 促进 (cùjìn). Students should focus on using it in context, especially in discussions about goals and achievements.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of encouragement often ties back to the value placed on hard work and perseverance, especially in education and career paths where competition is high.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 鞭策 in contexts where passive encouragement is intended. For instance, saying '她鞭策他放松' (She spurs him to relax) is incorrect; it should be '她鼓励他放松' (She encourages him to relax).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鞭策

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Component Characters

biānwhip or lash
18 strokes
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policy
HSK 412 strokes
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Write 鞭策

Practice writing 鞭策 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 鞭策

鞭策 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我自己那一点点的虚荣心和史朵夫给我的帮助, 却不知怎么____了我.

My little vanity, and Steerforth's help, urged me on somehow.

Example Sentences for 鞭策 (3)

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1
我自己那一点点的虚荣心和史朵夫给我的帮助, 却不知怎么鞭策了我.

wǒ zì jǐ nà yī diǎn diǎn de xū róng xīn hé shǐ duǒ fū gěi wǒ de bāng zhù, , què bù zhī zěn mó biān cè le.

My little vanity, and Steerforth's help, urged me on somehow.
2
他挥鞭策马前行.

tā huī biān cè mǎ qián háng.

He urged the horse on with a whip.
3
他挥鞭策马, 刚好赶在其他骑手前到达终点.

tā huī biān cè mǎ, , gāng hǎo gǎn zài qí tā qí shǒu qián dào dá zhōng.

Whipping his horse on, he reached the finishing post just ahead of the other riders.

Cultural Notes for 鞭策

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of encouragement often ties back to the value placed on hard work and perseverance, especially in education and career paths where competition is high.

Frequently Asked Questions about 鞭策

鞭策 emphasizes the action of urging someone to make progress, while 激励 focuses more on inspiration and encouragement.