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March 24, 2026
奋(奮)fèn(fen4)
The character 奋 (fèn) means to exert oneself or strive for something, often implying a strong effort towards achieving a goal. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal ambition, motivation, and overcoming challenges. The nuance of this word suggests not just effort, but a passionate determination to succeed.
Strokes8Radical大Frequency#18014DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of striving through hard work is deeply embedded in the ethos of '努力' (nǔlì), which emphasizes persistence and dedication, especially in education and career pursuits.
Memory tip
Imagine a person putting in all their energy to 'fennel' (sounds like 'fèn') a garden, pulling out weeds and planting seeds. The effort they put in symbolizes the determination to strive and make something grow, just like the meaning of 奋.
Meanings of 奋
fèn(fen4)
1exert oneself
2to strive, to exert effort; to arouse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 奋
奋Simplified
奮Traditional
8Strokes
大Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#18014Frequency Rank
Podcast: 奋
Podcast: 奋
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AI study notes for 奋
Quick Contrast
奋斗 (fèndòu) vs 努力 (nǔlì) — use 奋 when emphasizing passionate determination over general effort.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 奋 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is typically used in a more formal context, often found in motivational speeches or literature. Common collocations include 奋斗 (fèndòu - to strive) and 奋发 (fènfā - to be vigorous).
HSK Study Tips
Although 奋 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares roots with other words related to effort and striving, such as 努力 (nǔlì - to work hard). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in phrases that express ambition and motivation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 奋 in informal settings where a simpler word like 努力 (nǔlì) would suffice. For example, saying '我想要奋' instead of '我想要努力' (I want to work hard) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 奋
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The character 奋 (fèn) means to exert oneself or strive for something, often implying a strong effort towards achieving a goal. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal ambition, motivation, and overcoming challenges. The nuance of this word suggests not just effort, but a passionate determination to succeed.
When to use 奋
Be careful not to confuse 奋 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is typically used in a more formal context, often found in motivational speeches or literature. Common collocations include 奋斗 (fèndòu - to strive) and 奋发 (fènfā - to be vigorous).
奋 or something close to it
奋斗 (fèndòu) vs 努力 (nǔlì) — use 奋 when emphasizing passionate determination over general effort.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 奋 in informal settings where a simpler word like 努力 (nǔlì) would suffice. For example, saying '我想要奋' instead of '我想要努力' (I want to work hard) is incorrect.
Write 奋
奋
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Grammar patterns of 奋
奋 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 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.
Eric's sister had nobly volunteered to help with the gardening.
11
为了考试，他每天都努力奋斗。
Wèi le kǎoshì, tā měitiān dōu nǔlì fèndòu.
He exerts himself every day for the exam.
12
她在赛跑中奋力向前。
Tā zài sàipǎo zhōng fènlì xiàng qián.
She exerted herself to run forward in the race.
13
为了梦想，他决定拼命奋斗。
Wèi le mèngxiǎng, tā juédìng pīnmìng fèndòu.
He decided to exert himself for his dreams.
14
他们为胜利而奋战。
Tāmen wèi shènglì ér fènzhàn.
They exert themselves for victory.
15
为了实现目标，他每天努力奋斗。
Wèi le shíxiàn mùbiāo, tā měitiān nǔlì fèndòu.
To achieve his goals, he exerts himself every day.
16
她为比赛而奋力训练。
Tā wèi bǐsài ér fènlì xùnliàn.
She exerts herself in training for the competition.
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Cultural Notes for 奋
💡Did you know?
The character '奋' combines the radical for 'big' (大) and 'field' (田), symbolizing a strong effort put into work, much like a farmer laboring hard in the fields.
📜Proverb
The Chinese saying '努力才能成功' translates to 'Only through effort can one succeed.' This reflects the value placed on hard work in Chinese culture.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the emphasis on individual achievement and self-promotion often contrasts with the Chinese collectivist approach, where striving is often linked to group success and family honor.
Word Family of 奋
Compounds1
畚běnhamper, straw basket
Words containing this character20
兴奋xīngfènexcited興奮
奋斗fèndòuto strive奮鬥
勤奋qínfènhardworking勤奮
奋力fènlìto strive奮力
振奋zhènfènto stir oneself up振奮
兴奋剂xīngfènjìstimulant興奮劑
奋战fènzhànto fight bravely奮戰
艰苦奋斗jiānkǔfèndòuto struggle arduously艱苦奮鬥
亢奋kàngfènexcited亢奮
奋fènto exert oneself (bound form)奮
奋起fènqǐto rise vigorously奮起
奋勇fènyǒngdauntless奮勇
奋进fènjìnto endeavor奮進
奋不顾身fènbúgùshēnregardless of perils奮不顧身
孤军奋战gūjūnfènzhànlit. lone army putting up a brave fight (idiom)孤軍奮戰
自告奋勇zìgàofènyǒngto volunteer for自告奮勇
奋发fènfāenergetic mood奮發
奋发图强fènfātúqiángto work energetically for prosperity (of the country)奮發圖強
发奋fāfènto make an effort發奮
令人振奋lìngrénzhènfèninspiring令人振奮
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 奋
What does 畚 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 奋
Some synonyms for 奋 include 努力 (nǔlì), which means to work hard, and 奋斗 (fèndòu), which means to strive or struggle. These words also convey a sense of effort and determination in achieving goals.
Yes, 奋 is often used in everyday conversation, particularly when discussing effort and ambition. It can be applied in both formal and informal contexts, such as in motivational speeches or personal discussions about goals.
奋 (fèn) means to exert oneself or to strive. It reflects the idea of putting in effort and energy towards achieving something. In various contexts, it can also imply arousing or inspiring oneself or others to take action.
You can use 奋 in a sentence to express the idea of striving or making an effort. For example, you might say '他为了实现梦想而奋发努力' (Tā wèile shíxiàn mèngxiǎng ér fènfā nǔlì), which means 'He strives to work hard to achieve his dream.' This demonstrates its use in the context of dedication and effort.
Common phrases include 奋斗 (fèndòu - to strive) and 奋发 (fènfā - to be vigorous), both of which emphasize effort.
It is more commonly found in formal writing or speeches rather than in casual conversation.
While it shares a similar meaning with other words like 努力 (nǔlì), 奋 has a stronger connotation of passionate striving.
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