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March 24, 2026
励(勵)lì(Li4)
The character 励 (lì) primarily means 'to encourage' or 'to urge.' It is often used in contexts where motivation or support is provided, such as encouraging someone to pursue their goals or strive for improvement. Additionally, it serves as a common Chinese surname, Li.
Strokes7Radical力Frequency#29826DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, encouragement is often linked to the concept of '励志' (lìzhì), which is a popular theme in literature and self-help. Many motivational quotes and sayings emphasize the importance of striving toward one's dreams and aspirations, reflecting a cultural value placed on perseverance.
Memory tip
Think of 励 (lì) as a 'leader' in encouragement. The left part 力 (lì) represents strength, and the right part is a stylized representation of 'to urge' someone forward. Imagine a leader pushing their team with strength and motivation.
Meanings of 励
lì(Li4)
1to encourage
2to urge
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 励 means.
About 励
励Simplified
勵Traditional
7Strokes
力Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#29826Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 励
Podcast: 励
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AI study notes for 励
Quick Contrast
励 (lì) vs 促 (cù) — use 励 when emphasizing encouragement or support, while 促 focuses on prompting or hastening an action.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 励 with similar-sounding characters, such as 利 (lì, benefit) or 厉 (lì, severe). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual speech. It often collocates with words like '志' (zhì, aspiration) to form 励志 (lìzhì, to encourage one's aspirations).
HSK Study Tips
While 励 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to motivation and ambition. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in phrases and its role in encouragement contexts, enhancing their understanding of similar verbs and actions in Chinese.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 励 with 利 (lì), leading to errors like using '利' when they mean to encourage someone. The correct usage should focus on 励 when discussing motivation or encouragement.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 励
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Learning Lab
Knowing 励 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
励 = 力 + 厉. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 励
IDS Structure⿰厉力
励Full character
=
厉Li4
left
力Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 励?
How to say surname Li in Chinese
“surname Li” in Chinese is励lì
The character 励 (lì) primarily means 'to encourage' or 'to urge.' It is often used in contexts where motivation or support is provided, such as encouraging someone to pursue their goals or strive for improvement. Additionally, it serves as a common Chinese surname, Li.
When to use 励
Common mistakes include confusing 励 with similar-sounding characters, such as 利 (lì, benefit) or 厉 (lì, severe). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual speech. It often collocates with words like '志' (zhì, aspiration) to form 励志 (lìzhì, to encourage one's aspirations).
励 or something close to it
励 (lì) vs 促 (cù) — use 励 when emphasizing encouragement or support, while 促 focuses on prompting or hastening an action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 励 with 利 (lì), leading to errors like using '利' when they mean to encourage someone. The correct usage should focus on 励 when discussing motivation or encouragement.
Write 励
励
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Grammar patterns of 励
励 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 4 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.
You get a big salary incentive and free board and lodging too.
10
没人认为应该鼓励现在滴酒不沾的人去狂喝豪饮。
méi rén rènwéi yīnggāi gǔlì xiànzài dī jiǔ bù zhān de rén qù kuáng hē háo yǐn。
No one believes that current nondrinkers should be encouraged to start imbibing.
11
励先生是我们公司新来的总经理。
Lì xiānsheng shì wǒmen gōngsī xīn lái de zǒng jīnglǐ.
Mr. Li is the new general manager at our company.
12
在这次会议上，励女士发表了重要的讲话。
Zài zhè cì huìyì shàng, Lì nǚshì fābiǎo le zhòngyào de jiǎnghuà.
At the meeting, Ms. Li delivered an important speech.
13
励教授的研究对医学界有很大的贡献。
Lì jiàoshòu de yánjiū duì yīxué jiè yǒu hěn dà de gòngxiàn.
Professor Li's research has made a significant contribution to the medical field.
14
励家一直以来都以教育为重，非常重视孩子们的学习。
Lì jiā yīzhí yǐlái dōu yǐ jiàoyù wéi zhòng, fēicháng zhòngshì háizimen de xuéxí.
The Li family has always prioritized education and places great importance on their children's learning.
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Word Family of 励
Words containing this character7
鼓励gǔlìto encourage鼓勵
奖励jiǎnglìto reward獎勵
激励jīlìto urge激勵
励志lìzhìto encourage勵志
励lìto urge勵
王励勤wánglìqínWang Liqin (1978-), former PRC table tennis player, Olympic medalist王勵勤
勉励miǎnlìto encourage勉勵
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 励
What does 鼓励 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 励
Yes, 励 (Lì) is a surname in China, though it is not as common as some other surnames. It reflects a cultural significance and can be found in various regions.
励 (lì) and 鼓励 (gǔlì) both relate to encouragement, but 励 tends to be more about urging someone to strive, while 鼓励 implies giving support and motivation. They can often be used interchangeably, but the nuance may vary based on context.
励 (lì) means 'to encourage' or 'to urge' in Chinese. It can also be used as a surname, Li. The character conveys a sense of motivation and striving towards goals.
You can use 励 (lì) in a sentence like '他鼓励我努力学习' (Tā gǔlì wǒ nǔlì xuéxí), which means 'He encourages me to study hard.' This shows how the character is used to express support and motivation.
You can say '他鼓励我努力学习' (Tā gǔlì wǒ nǔlì xuéxí), meaning 'He encourages me to study hard.'
While primarily a verb meaning 'to encourage,' it can also be a surname.
Yes, 励 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts when discussing motivation.
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