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March 24, 2026
勉miǎn(mian3)
The character 勉 (miǎn) primarily means to exhort or encourage someone to make an effort. It is often used in contexts where motivation or urging someone to try harder is involved. This term can also imply a sense of perseverance in the face of challenges, making it applicable in both formal and informal situations.
Strokes9Radical力Frequency#48696DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, encouragement is often emphasized, especially in educational and family settings. The concept of 勉 reflects the cultural value placed on hard work and perseverance, which is seen in the saying 勉励 (miǎnlì, to encourage) often used by teachers.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person urging their friend to climb a steep mountain (the effort), and the character 勉 looks like a person with a strong will (the left side) encouraging another (the right side) to push through. The sound 'miǎn' can be remembered if you think of 'man' motivating a friend, pushing them to 'make an effort.'
Meanings of 勉
miǎn(mian3)
1to exhort
2to make an effort
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 勉
勉Simplified
9Strokes
力Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#48696Frequency Rank
Podcast: 勉
Podcast: 勉
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AI Study Notes for 勉
Quick Contrast
勉 (miǎn) vs 鼓励 (gǔlì) — use 勉 when emphasizing urging effort, while 鼓励 focuses more on providing encouragement.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 勉 with similar-sounding words. It is often used in formal contexts, but can also be used informally among friends. Watch out for the tone; mispronouncing it as 'miàn' (which means 'noodles') can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
勉 is not found in the HSK vocabulary lists, yet it connects to higher-level words that express effort and encouragement, such as 努力 (nǔlì, to strive). Students should focus on its usage in phrases like 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng, to force oneself) to fully grasp its nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 勉 with 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng), which means to do something reluctantly. For example, saying '我勉强去' (wǒ miǎnqiǎng qù, I urge myself to go) incorrectly implies force rather than encouragement; the correct usage should focus on motivation, like '我勉励他去' (wǒ miǎnlì tā qù, I encourage him to go).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 勉
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Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 免 represents the sound.
1The meaning half力 carries the sense.
2The sound half免 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystrength
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 勉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 勉?
Decomposition of 勉
IDS Structure⿺免力
勉Full Character
=
免mian3
enclosing
力Li4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 勉?
How to say to exhort in Chinese
“to exhort” in Chinese is勉miǎn
The character 勉 (miǎn) primarily means to exhort or encourage someone to make an effort. It is often used in contexts where motivation or urging someone to try harder is involved. This term can also imply a sense of perseverance in the face of challenges, making it applicable in both formal and informal situations.
When to use 勉
Common mistakes include confusing 勉 with similar-sounding words. It is often used in formal contexts, but can also be used informally among friends. Watch out for the tone; mispronouncing it as 'miàn' (which means 'noodles') can lead to misunderstandings.
勉 or something close to it
勉 (miǎn) vs 鼓励 (gǔlì) — use 勉 when emphasizing urging effort, while 鼓励 focuses more on providing encouragement.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 勉 with 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng), which means to do something reluctantly. For example, saying '我勉强去' (wǒ miǎnqiǎng qù, I urge myself to go) incorrectly implies force rather than encouragement; the correct usage should focus on motivation, like '我勉励他去' (wǒ miǎnlì tā qù, I encourage him to go).
Write 勉
勉
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Grammar Patterns of 勉
勉 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
