Usage note
鼓励表示让别人更有信心。
gǔ lì biǎo shì ràng bié rén gèng yǒu xìn xīn。
Encourage means to help someone feel more confident.
Context note
鼓励常出现在学习、比赛和支持别人里。
gǔ lì cháng chū xiàn zài xué xí 、 bǐ sài hé zhī chí bié rén lǐ。
Encourage often appears in study, competitions, and supporting others.
5 examples
老师鼓励我。
lǎo shī gǔ lì wǒ。
The teacher encouraged me.
妈妈鼓励孩子。
mā ma gǔ lì hái zi。
Mom encourages the child.
请鼓励他。
qǐng gǔ lì tā。
Please encourage him.
朋友的话很鼓励我。
péng yǒu de huà hěn gǔ lì wǒ。
My friend's words encouraged me.
大家互相鼓励。
dà jiā hù xiāng gǔ lì。
Everyone encourages each other.
5 mini stories
我比赛时很紧张，老师一直鼓励我。
wǒ bǐ sài shí hěn jǐn zhāng， lǎo shī yì zhí gǔ lì wǒ。
I was nervous during the competition, and the teacher kept encouraging me.
妈妈鼓励我认真学习，不要怕困难。
mā ma gǔ lì wǒ rèn zhēn xué xí， bú yào pà kùn nán。
Mom encouraged me to study seriously and not fear difficulties.
朋友的鼓励让我更有信心。
péng yǒu de gǔ lì ràng wǒ gèng yǒu xìn xīn。
My friend's encouragement made me more confident.
班级里大家常常互相鼓励。
bān jí lǐ dà jiā cháng cháng hù xiāng gǔ lì。
In class, everyone often encourages each other.
老师说一句鼓励的话，能让人更开心。
lǎo shī shuō yí jù gǔ lì de huà， néng ràng rén gèng kāi xīn。
The teacher said a word of encouragement can make people happier.
Mini dialogue
鼓励朋友
A
我有点紧张，不敢上台。
Wǒ yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng, bù gǎn shàng tái.
I'm a bit nervous and dare not go on stage.
B
别怕，我鼓励你，你一定可以的！
Bié pà, wǒ gǔlì nǐ, nǐ yīdìng kěyǐ de!
Don't be afraid, I encourage you, you can definitely do it!
老师的话
A
老师，我这次考试没考好。
Lǎoshī, wǒ zhè cì kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo.
Teacher, I didn't do well on this exam.
B
没关系，老师鼓励你继续努力。
Méiguānxi, lǎoshī gǔlì nǐ jìxù nǔlì.
It's okay, the teacher encourages you to keep working hard.
Related words and contrasts
similar
支持
zhī chí
support
Both mean to give help or strength to someone.
related
表扬
biǎo yáng
praise
Praising someone is a common way to encourage them.
related
加油
jiā yóu
go for it / keep it up
A cheerful phrase used to encourage someone during an activity.