gǔlì: 鼓励 - To Encourage, To Inspire

• Keywords: guli, 鼓励, how to say encourage in Chinese, guli meaning, Chinese encouragement, guli vs jia you, guli vs zhichi, learn Chinese encouragement, Chinese motivation, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 鼓励 (gǔlì), which means “to encourage” or “to inspire.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its deep cultural significance in parenting and education, and provides 10 practical example sentences. Discover the key differences between 鼓励 (gǔlì), 加油 (jiāyóu), and 支持 (zhīchí) to use them like a native speaker and avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gǔlì
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To give someone courage or confidence; to urge or inspire someone to do something.
• In a Nutshell: 鼓励 (gǔlì) is the act of boosting someone's morale and motivating them towards a future action. It's more than a simple “you can do it”; it's a foundational concept in Chinese culture for pushing others to strive, persevere, and achieve their potential. It can be used for everything from a teacher motivating a student to a government policy incentivizing a certain behavior.

• 鼓 (gǔ): This character originally depicted a drum (鼓) on a stand. Its meaning extends from the object itself to the action of “beating a drum.” In ancient battles, drums were beaten to raise troop morale and signal an advance. This gives the character a powerful sense of rousing, stirring up, and inspiring action.
• 励 (lì): This character means “to encourage” or “to exert oneself.” The key component is 力 (lì) at the bottom, which means “strength” or “power.” Thus, 励 (lì) is about urging someone to use their inner strength and effort.
• Together, 鼓励 (gǔlì) creates a vivid image: beating a drum (鼓) to inspire someone to exert their strength (励). It’s a powerful metaphor for actively instilling courage and motivation in others.

In Chinese culture, 鼓励 (gǔlì) is a cornerstone of education, parenting, and social relationships. It's often more proactive and goal-oriented than its English counterpart, “encouragement.” While Western encouragement often focuses on validating feelings and building self-esteem (“I'm proud of you for trying,” “It's okay if you fail”), Chinese 鼓励 (gǔlì) is frequently tied to the cultural value of perseverance (吃苦耐劳, chīkǔ nàiláo - to bear hardships and stand tall). It is a tool used to push someone to overcome difficulties and achieve a concrete goal, not just for their own sake, but often for the honor of the family or the good of the collective. For example, a parent might 鼓励 (gǔlì) their child to practice piano not just for personal enjoyment, but because it cultivates discipline and reflects well on the family's dedication to education. It's less about “follow your passion” and more about “persevere through this challenge to build character and achieve success.” This makes 鼓励 a key driver of the legendary Chinese work ethic and emphasis on academic achievement.

鼓励 (gǔlì) is a versatile word used in many contexts, from intimate conversations to formal government announcements.

• In Education and Family: This is its most common habitat. Teachers constantly 鼓励 students to study harder, and parents 鼓励 their children to develop skills and overcome shyness. It's the verbal fuel for a child's development.
• In the Workplace: Managers 鼓励 their teams to meet targets or to be more innovative. It's a positive, motivational tool used in corporate communication.
• Among Friends: It's used to support friends facing challenges, like a tough exam, a job interview, or a personal difficulty. Here, it functions much like “to encourage” in English.
• As a Noun: 鼓励 can also mean “encouragement” itself. You can give (给), receive (受到), or need (需要) encouragement.
• In Formal/Official Contexts: The government uses 鼓励 in policy-making to mean “to promote” or “to incentivize.” For example, a policy might 鼓励 entrepreneurship or the use of renewable energy.

• Example 1:
  • 老师 鼓励 我们要相信自己。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gǔlì wǒmen yào xiāngxìn zìjǐ.
  • English: The teacher encourages us to believe in ourselves.
  • Analysis: A classic classroom scenario. The encouragement is aimed at building confidence for future performance.
• Example 2:
  • 父母总是 鼓励 我追求自己的梦想。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zǒngshì gǔlì wǒ zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.
  • English: My parents always encourage me to pursue my own dreams.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the supportive and motivational role of 鼓励 within the family.
• Example 3:
  • 别灰心，我 鼓励 你再试一次。
  • Pinyin: Bié huīxīn, wǒ gǔlì nǐ zài shì yí cì.
  • English: Don't be discouraged, I encourage you to try again.
  • Analysis: A common and direct use between friends. It's a call to action—“try again.”
• Example 4:
  • 你的话给了我很大的 鼓励。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de huà gěi le wǒ hěn dà de gǔlì.
  • English: Your words gave me a lot of encouragement.
  • Analysis: Here, 鼓励 is used as a noun. It refers to the encouragement itself, which was received from someone's words.
• Example 5:
  • 政府出台新政策，鼓励 企业创新。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chūtái xīn zhèngcè, gǔlì qǐyè chuàngxīn.
  • English: The government introduced a new policy to encourage corporate innovation.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the formal, official use of the word, where it means “to incentivize” or “to promote.”
• Example 6:
  • 他的成功 鼓励 了无数的年轻人。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng gǔlì le wúshù de niánqīng rén.
  • English: His success has inspired countless young people.
  • Analysis: In this context, 鼓励 takes on the meaning of “to inspire.” The success is an indirect form of encouragement to others.
• Example 7:
  • 在我快要放弃的时候，是朋友的 鼓励 让我坚持了下来。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒ kuàiyào fàngqì de shíhou, shì péngyou de gǔlì ràng wǒ jiānchí le xiàlái.
  • English: When I was about to give up, it was my friend's encouragement that made me persevere.
  • Analysis: Shows 鼓励 (as a noun) being the direct cause for a positive outcome (perseverance).
• Example 8:
  • 我们应该多 鼓励 孩子，少批评他们。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi duō gǔlì háizi, shǎo pīpíng tāmen.
  • English: We should encourage children more and criticize them less.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a direct contrast with 批评 (pīpíng), “to criticize,” highlighting 鼓励's role as a positive educational tool.
• Example 9:
  • 经理用奖金来 鼓励 员工更加努力地工作。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yòng jiǎngjīn lái gǔlì yuángōng gèngjiā nǔlì de gōngzuò.
  • English: The manager uses bonuses to encourage employees to work harder.
  • Analysis: Here, the encouragement is tied to a tangible incentive (a bonus), blending the line with “motivate.”
• Example 10:
  • 我需要一些 鼓励 来完成这个艰难的任务。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yìxiē gǔlì lái wánchéng zhège jiānnán de rènwù.
  • English: I need some encouragement to finish this difficult task.
  • Analysis: A simple, clear use of 鼓励 as a noun, showing a need for moral support.

English speakers often confuse 鼓励 (gǔlì) with two other common words: 加油 (jiāyóu) and 支持 (zhīchí). Understanding the difference is key to sounding natural.

• 鼓励 (gǔlì) vs. 加油 (jiāyóu):
  • 加油 (jiāyóu): This is a cheer, like “Come on!” or “Go for it!” It's an interjection used in the moment to give a quick burst of energy. You shout it at a sports game or say it to a friend right before they take a test.
  • 鼓励 (gǔlì): This is the broader act of encouraging. It's a verb or a noun. You can 鼓励 someone by saying things like, “I know you can do it, you've prepared so well.” In fact, saying “加油!” is one way *to* 鼓励 someone.
  • Mistake: Saying “我鼓励你!” right before a race. It sounds too formal and distant. “加油!” is the right word. Saying “我加油你” is grammatically incorrect.
• 鼓励 (gǔlì) vs. 支持 (zhīchí):
  • 支持 (zhīchí): This means “to support” and often implies tangible help—money, resources, action, or political backing. It's about providing a foundation for someone.
  • 鼓励 (gǔlì): This is primarily about moral, verbal, and psychological support. It's about boosting confidence and motivation.
  • Mistake: Using 鼓励 when concrete support is meant.
    • Incorrect: 我 鼓励 你的新公司，所以我要买你的产品。(I encourage your new company, so I will buy your products.)
    • Correct: 我 支持 你的新公司，所以我要买你的产品。(I support your new company, so I will buy your products.)
    • You can, however, say both: “我 鼓励 你创业，我也会用实际行动 支持 你。” (I encourage you to start a business, and I will also support you with practical actions.)

• 加油 (jiāyóu) - “Go for it!”, “Come on!”. An in-the-moment cheer. A tool used for 鼓励.
• 支持 (zhīchí) - To support. Implies more concrete, practical, or financial assistance than 鼓励.
• 激励 (jīlì) - To motivate, to incentivize. A stronger, more intense, and more formal word than 鼓励, often linked to rewards or ambitious goals.
• 鼓舞 (gǔwǔ) - To inspire, to boost morale. Very similar to 鼓励 but more formal and often used for inspiring large groups, like a team or a nation.
• 表扬 (biǎoyáng) - To praise. This is reactive, for something good someone has already done. 鼓励 is proactive, for a future action.
• 批评 (pīpíng) - To criticize. A direct antonym to 表扬 (biǎoyáng) and the conceptual opposite of 鼓励.
• 劝 (quàn) - To persuade, to advise. This implies trying to get someone to do (or not do) something, often by reasoning with them. It can sometimes have a slightly forceful nuance that 鼓励 lacks.
• 勇气 (yǒngqì) - Courage, bravery. This is the quality that 鼓励 is meant to produce in someone.