Chinese word

激励

Pronunciation

Pinyinjī lì

Meaning

  • verbencourage

Example

老师激励学生继续努力。lǎo shī jī lì xué shēng jì xù nǔ lì

The teacher encourages the students to keep working hard.

Illustration for 激励 (encourage)

More examples

公司通过税收优惠和奖金激励员工创新。gōng sī tōng guò shuì shōu yōu huì hé jiǎng jīn jī lì yuán gōng chuàng xīn

The company uses tax benefits and bonuses to encourage innovation among its employees.

Core concept

A forceful spark that turns support into sustained effort toward a chosen goal.

Common phrases

  • 激励员工jī lì yuán gōng

    encourage employees

  • 激励士气jī lì shì qì

    boost morale

  • 激励创新jī lì chuàng xīn

    encourage innovation

Similar words

鼓励gǔ lì: To encourage someone with words or actions so they continue making an effort.
鼓舞gú wǔ: To raise someone's spirits or morale and move them to act positively.
激发jī fā: To stimulate inner feelings or abilities and turn them into action.

Definition in Chinese

用强烈的话语、行动或措施鼓舞他人，使其增强动力并继续朝既定目标努力。yòng qiáng liè de huà yǔ xíng dòng huò cuò shī gú wǔ tā rén shǐ qí zēng qiáng dòng lì bìng jì xù cháo jì dìng mù biāo nǔ lì

Word origin

激 (jī, "stimulate strongly") + 励 (lì, "urge and encourage") combine to express a strong push that keeps someone working toward a goal.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word sounds more deliberate and formal than a quick word of praise, and it often describes support from a teacher, coach, manager, or public speaker.

Other meanings

  • motivateverb
  • inspireverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 激励政策jī lì zhèng cèincentive policynoun
  • 激励措施jī lì cuò shīincentive measurenoun
  • 激励机制jī lì jī zhìincentive mechanismnoun

Word lists with this word