鼓励 in 30 Seconds
- 鼓励 (gǔlì) means to encourage or give support to someone.
- It can be used as both a verb and a noun in Chinese.
- Commonly used in education, parenting, and workplace management contexts.
- It is a key word for expressing positive reinforcement and motivation.
The term 鼓励 (gǔlì) is a cornerstone of positive reinforcement in the Chinese language. At its core, it functions as both a verb meaning 'to encourage' and a noun meaning 'encouragement.' The etymology of the characters provides a vivid picture of its intent: 鼓 (gǔ) originally referred to a drum, symbolizing the act of beating a drum to rouse spirits or signal an advance in battle. 励 (lì) conveys the idea of exerting effort or sharpening a blade. Together, they represent the act of stimulating someone's spirit to help them strive forward with renewed vigor.
- Grammatical Function
- Primarily used as a transitive verb (鼓励某人) or as an abstract noun (给予鼓励).
- Emotional Resonance
- It carries a warm, supportive connotation, often used by superiors to subordinates or peers to peers.
- Psychological Impact
- In educational psychology, it is the 'fuel' for growth mindset in Chinese pedagogical contexts.
“老师经常鼓励我们要勇敢面对困难。” (The teacher often encourages us to face difficulties bravely.)
In the context of IELTS or academic writing, 鼓励 is indispensable when discussing social policies, parenting styles, or management techniques. It suggests a proactive approach to human development. Unlike 'praise' (表扬), which focuses on the result, 鼓励 focuses on the process and the potential of the individual. It is about building confidence before or during a task, rather than just rewarding the outcome.
“父母的鼓励是我前进的动力。” (My parents' encouragement is the driving force for my progress.)
“政府鼓励年轻人创业。” (The government encourages young people to start businesses.)
“我们需要更多的鼓励，而不是批评。” (We need more encouragement, not criticism.)
“他的话给了我莫大的鼓励。” (His words gave me great encouragement.)
- Collocation
- 得到鼓励 (receive encouragement), 值得鼓励 (worthy of encouragement).
Using 鼓励 correctly requires understanding its flexibility as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it follows the pattern 鼓励 + Person + [to do] Something. This is a pivotal structure for expressing support for someone's actions or future plans. For example, '我鼓励他去留学' (I encourage him to study abroad). It can also be used in the passive voice: '我受到了老师的鼓励' (I was encouraged by the teacher).
- Sentence Pattern 1
- Subject + 鼓励 + Object + Verb Phrase (e.g., 公司鼓励员工创新).
- Sentence Pattern 2
- Subject + 得到/受到 + (Person's) + 鼓励 (e.g., 他得到了家人的鼓励).
When used as a noun, it often follows verbs like '给予' (to give), '提供' (to provide), or '需要' (to need). In academic contexts, you might see phrases like '物质鼓励' (material encouragement/incentives) versus '精神鼓励' (spiritual/mental encouragement). This distinction is crucial in sociological discussions about motivation. For instance, '单纯的物质鼓励是不够的' (Simple material incentives are not enough).
“这种行为值得鼓励。” (This kind of behavior is worth encouraging.)
Furthermore, 鼓励 can be modified by adverbs of degree like '多' (more), '极大地' (greatly), or '不断地' (continuously). '我们要多鼓励孩子' (We should encourage children more). This highlights the iterative nature of the word—it's not just a one-time act but an ongoing process of support.
You will encounter 鼓励 in three primary environments: the classroom, the workplace, and the home. In the Chinese educational system, '鼓励式教育' (encouragement-based education) is a hot topic, contrasting with traditional 'stricter' methods. Teachers use it to build students' confidence in subjects like public speaking or complex problem solving.
“在会上，经理鼓励大家畅所欲言。” (At the meeting, the manager encouraged everyone to speak their minds freely.)
In the corporate world, 鼓励 is used during performance reviews and team-building exercises. It's often linked to innovation (创新) and collaboration (合作). You'll hear it in speeches by CEOs who want to 'encourage' a new direction for the company. It's also common in public service announcements, where the government 'encourages' citizens to save water, recycle, or participate in public health initiatives.
In daily life, it's a gentle way to show you care. When a friend is hesitant to try something new, saying '我鼓励你去试试' (I encourage you to give it a try) is more supportive than just saying 'Go do it.' It implies that you believe in their ability to succeed.
The most frequent error learners make with 鼓励 is confusing it with its close synonyms: 鼓舞 (gǔwǔ) and 激励 (jīlì). While they all relate to 'encouraging' or 'inspiring,' their usage contexts differ significantly. 鼓励 is the most general and can be used for almost any situation where support is given. 鼓舞 is more about 'inspiring' or 'uplifting' the spirit, often used for news, music, or large-scale events that boost morale (e.g., 鼓舞人心).
- Mistake 1: Confusing with 激励
- 激励 is often used for 'incentivizing' or 'stimulating' through specific rewards or goals. Use 鼓励 for emotional support and 激励 for motivational systems.
- Mistake 2: Incorrect Object
- You encourage a person (鼓励人), you don't 'encourage a result'. You can 'encourage the development of' (鼓励...的发展), but usually, the object is an entity that can act.
“Incorrect: 他的成功鼓励了我。” (While understandable, '鼓舞' or '激励' might be better if the success inspired you.)
Another mistake is using it as a direct translation for 'bravo' or 'well done.' While 鼓励 is the *act* of encouraging, the *praise* itself is '表扬' (biǎoyáng). If a child does something well, you '表扬' them, and that act serves as '鼓励' for their future efforts. Mixing these up can make your Chinese sound unnatural in feedback loops.
Understanding the 'Encouragement' family in Chinese helps in choosing the precise word for the context. Here is a breakdown of the most common similar words compared to 鼓励.
- 激励 (jīlì)
- Focuses on 'drive' and 'incentive.' Often used in management (激励机制 - incentive mechanism). It's about pushing someone to reach a higher goal.
- 鼓舞 (gǔwǔ)
- Focuses on 'inspiration' and 'morale.' It's often used for things that make people feel excited or hopeful (鼓舞士气 - boost morale).
- 勉励 (miǎnlì)
- A more formal and traditional term, often used by elders or teachers to advise younger people to work hard. It carries a sense of 'exhortation.'
- 打气 (dǎqì)
- Colloquial. Literally 'to pump air.' It means to cheer someone up or give them a pep talk before a challenge.
“经理用奖金激励员工，用言语鼓励员工。” (The manager motivates employees with bonuses and encourages them with words.)
In summary, use 鼓励 for general support, 激励 for performance-based motivation, 鼓舞 for emotional inspiration, and 勉励 for formal advice. Choosing the right one shows a high level of linguistic nuance.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Pivotal sentences (兼语句)
Noun phrases with '的'
Passive voice with '受到'
Adverbial modifiers with '地'
Degree complements
Examples by Level
老师鼓励我。
Teacher encourages me.
Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.
谢谢你的鼓励。
Thank you for your encouragement.
Here '鼓励' is used as a noun.
爸爸鼓励我跑步。
Dad encourages me to run.
Verb + Object + Action.
我们需要鼓励。
We need encouragement.
Simple noun usage.
他鼓励他的朋友。
He encourages his friend.
Basic transitive verb.
妈妈给我鼓励。
Mom gives me encouragement.
Using '给' to show the giving of encouragement.
多鼓励，少批评。
More encouragement, less criticism.
Parallel structure using nouns.
我很喜欢你的鼓励。
I really like your encouragement.
Noun modified by a possessive.
老师鼓励大家多说中文。
The teacher encourages everyone to speak more Chinese.
鼓励 + Person + Action.
朋友的鼓励让我很有信心。
My friend's encouragement gives me a lot of confidence.
Noun as a subject.
他鼓励我参加比赛。
He encouraged me to join the competition.
Standard encouragement pattern.
我们要鼓励孩子学习。
We should encourage children to study.
Using '要' for suggestion.
我得到了很多鼓励。
I received a lot of encouragement.
得到 + 鼓励.
这种行为值得鼓励。
This behavior is worth encouraging.
值得 + 鼓励 (worthy of).
他不断地鼓励我。
He continuously encourages me.
Adverb + 鼓励.
你的鼓励对我非常重要。
Your encouragement is very important to me.
Noun in a 'Subject + 对...重要' structure.
政府鼓励年轻人回乡创业。
The government encourages young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses.
Formal usage in social policy.
在老师的鼓励下，我克服了困难。
Under the teacher's encouragement, I overcame the difficulties.
在...的鼓励下 (Under the encouragement of...).
这种教学方法旨在鼓励学生创新。
This teaching method aims to encourage students to innovate.
旨在 (aims to) + 鼓励.
父母不应该只给压力，也要给鼓励。
Parents shouldn't just give pressure; they should also give encouragement.
Contrastive structure.
我深受他的话的鼓励。
I was deeply encouraged by his words.
深受...的鼓励 (Deeply encouraged by...).
公司鼓励员工提出不同的意见。
The company encourages employees to voice different opinions.
Corporate context usage.
我们需要更多的精神鼓励。
We need more spiritual encouragement.
精神鼓励 (Spiritual/mental encouragement).
他用自己的经历鼓励了很多人。
He encouraged many people with his own experiences.
用...鼓励 (Encourage with...).
政策鼓励企业加大研发投入。
The policy encourages enterprises to increase investment in R&D.
Economic/Policy context.
这种奖励制度极大地鼓励了员工的积极性。
This reward system has greatly encouraged the employees' initiative.
鼓励 + Abstract Noun (initiative).
他虽然失败了，但大家还是给了他很多鼓励。
Although he failed, everyone still gave him a lot of encouragement.
Concessive clause (虽然...但...).
我们要鼓励多元文化的发展。
We should encourage the development of multiculturalism.
Encouraging a concept/movement.
他的成功是对我们最大的鼓励。
His success is the greatest encouragement to us.
Success as a form of encouragement.
老师采取了鼓励式的教育方法。
The teacher adopted an encouragement-based educational method.
鼓励式 (Encouragement-style) as an adjective.
这种风气不值得鼓励。
This kind of atmosphere/trend is not worth encouraging.
Negative evaluation.
我写这篇文章是为了鼓励那些处于困境中的人。
I wrote this article to encourage those in difficult situations.
Purpose clause (是为了...).
政府出台了一系列政策，旨在鼓励绿色消费。
The government has introduced a series of policies aimed at encouraging green consumption.
Formal administrative language.
这种变相的补贴实际上是在鼓励低效生产。
This disguised subsidy is actually encouraging inefficient production.
Critical/Economic analysis.
在那个动荡的年代，这些诗歌鼓励了无数追求自由的灵魂。
In those turbulent times, these poems encouraged countless souls seeking freedom.
Literary/Historical context.
我们应当鼓励质疑精神，而不是盲目从众。
We should encourage a spirit of questioning rather than blind conformity.
Abstract philosophical contrast.
这种机制鼓励了跨学科的合作与交流。
This mechanism encourages interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange.
Academic/Organizational context.
他那番语重心长的话给了我极大的鼓励。
His sincere and earnest words gave me great encouragement.
Using idioms (语重心长).
社会应当鼓励弱势群体勇敢发声。
Society should encourage vulnerable groups to speak up bravely.
Social justice context.
这种现象在某种程度上鼓励了学术造假。
This phenomenon, to some extent, encourages academic fraud.
Critiquing negative trends.
该项法案的修订，旨在从法律层面鼓励社会资本进入养老产业。
The revision of the bill aims to encourage social capital to enter the elderly care industry from a legal perspective.
High-level legal/economic jargon.
文艺复兴时期的思想解放，极大地鼓励了科学探索的热情。
The ideological liberation of the Renaissance greatly encouraged the passion for scientific exploration.
Historical/Philosophical analysis.
这种评价体系若不改革，势必会鼓励急功近利的学术风气。
If this evaluation system is not reformed, it will inevitably encourage a climate of academic impetuousness and short-termism.
Predictive/Critical academic tone.
他在演讲中鼓励我们要有‘先天下之忧而忧’的抱负。
In his speech, he encouraged us to have the ambition of 'being the first to worry about the world's woes'.
Incorporating classical literary quotes.
这种激励机制的本质，是通过鼓励个体奋斗来实现集体繁荣。
The essence of this incentive mechanism is to achieve collective prosperity by encouraging individual struggle.
Theoretical/Sociological discourse.
我们不应鼓励那种以牺牲环境为代价的经济增长模式。
We should not encourage an economic growth model that comes at the expense of the environment.
Complex ethical/environmental argument.
他的文字中透着一种温和的力量，默默地鼓励着每一个读者。
His writing reveals a gentle power, silently encouraging every reader.
Subtle literary description.
在全球化的今天，我们更应鼓励不同文明之间的对话与互鉴。
In today's globalized world, we should even more encourage dialogue and mutual learning between different civilizations.
Global/Diplomatic context.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
More about inspiring morale or spirit.
More about specific incentives or drives.
More formal, often from elder to younger.
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
Word Family
Related
How to Use It
Encouraging a person vs. encouraging a trend.
鼓励 + 创新/发展/学习
- Using 鼓励 to mean 'praise' (use 表扬 instead).
- Using 鼓励 for negative instigation (use 怂恿 instead).
- Incorrect sentence structure: 鼓励 + Action (missing the person).
- Confusing 鼓励 with 奖励 (reward).
- Using it as a noun without a supporting verb like 得到 or 给予.
Tips
Verb-Object-Verb
Remember the pattern: 鼓励 + Person + Action. It is the most natural way to use the word.
Noun forms
Use '给予鼓励' (give encouragement) in formal writing instead of just '鼓励'.
Tone
Ensure the 3rd tone in 鼓 is clear to avoid confusion with other 'gu' words.
IELTS Tip
Use 鼓励 when discussing government policies in Task 2 essays.
Social Nuance
In China, 'encouragement' often implies an expectation of future hard work.
Workplace
Use it to describe 'incentivizing' behavior in management contexts.
Drum Beat
Associate 鼓 with a drum beat that pushes you forward.
Avoid '怂恿'
Never use 鼓励 for negative actions like stealing or lying.
Use '鼓舞' for news
If the news is uplifting, '鼓舞人心' is the standard idiom.
Listen for '值得'
The phrase '值得鼓励' is a common way to praise effort.
Memorize It
Word Origin
鼓 (drum) + 励 (to sharpen/exert). Historically, drums were used to encourage soldiers on the battlefield.
Cultural Context
A key part of the 'new' parenting style in urban China.
Used in slogans to foster corporate loyalty.
Increasingly emphasized in modern Chinese schools.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"你最近得到了谁的鼓励？"
"你觉得鼓励对孩子重要吗？"
"在工作中，你更喜欢物质奖励还是精神鼓励？"
"当你想放弃时，什么能鼓励你坚持下去？"
"你会如何鼓励一个失落的朋友？"
Journal Prompts
写一次你受到鼓励的经历。
讨论一下‘鼓励’和‘批评’哪个更有效。
如果你是老师，你会如何鼓励你的学生？
写一封信鼓励未来的自己。
分析一下政府应该如何鼓励环保行为。
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, you can encourage a pet to do a trick, though '训练' (train) is more common.
Yes, unlike '怂恿' (instigate), which is negative.
支持 is 'support' (could be financial/physical), 鼓励 is 'encourage' (mental/spiritual).
No, say '鼓励我学中文'.
Yes, it is a core word in HSK 4 and above.
Usually no. For bad things, use '怂恿' or '诱导'.
自我鼓励.
Very often, especially regarding innovation and growth.
打击 (dǎjī - to discourage/strike).
Yes, '很多鼓励' is perfectly natural.
Test Yourself 180 questions
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
鼓励 is a versatile and essential word for any learner, bridging the gap between simple support and complex social incentives. It is the go-to term for 'encouragement' in almost all standard Chinese contexts.
- 鼓励 (gǔlì) means to encourage or give support to someone.
- It can be used as both a verb and a noun in Chinese.
- Commonly used in education, parenting, and workplace management contexts.
- It is a key word for expressing positive reinforcement and motivation.
Verb-Object-Verb
Remember the pattern: 鼓励 + Person + Action. It is the most natural way to use the word.
Noun forms
Use '给予鼓励' (give encouragement) in formal writing instead of just '鼓励'.
Tone
Ensure the 3rd tone in 鼓 is clear to avoid confusion with other 'gu' words.
IELTS Tip
Use 鼓励 when discussing government policies in Task 2 essays.
Example
父母应该多鼓励孩子尝试新事物。
Related Content
More education words
能力
B1The physical or mental power or skill needed to do something.
缺勤
B1The state of being absent from work or school when one is expected to be there.
摘要
B1A brief summary of the main points of an article, speech, or academic paper.
学术界
B1The community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research. It refers to the world of universities and research institutes.
教学楼
A2academic building; teaching building
学年
A2academic year
学术
B1Relating to education and scholarship; or scholarly work.
积累
B1To gradually collect or increase something over a period of time. It refers to the process of gathering knowledge, experience, or wealth.
习得
B1The process of acquiring a skill or knowledge, often naturally or subconsciously. A key term in linguistics (language acquisition).
录取
B1To officially accept someone into a school, university, or job after a competitive application process.
