勵
surname Li; to encourage; to urge
Closest English meanings
encourage·urge
The Calligrapher — Shěn Dù 沈度
Ming court calligrapher famed for refined regular script.
Ming calligrapher (), master of regular script — known for 台阁体代表. Ming dynasty
Cultural Story
The phrase 励精图治 — to govern with sharpened spirit — closes biographies of emperors who meant to set a falling house right. 勵 is the whetstone on will: 鼓勵 the teacher's word, 激勵 the general's banner. The word 勵志 now fronts bookstalls of self-made-millionaire tales, a long way from the throne.
Common words & phrases
- 鼓励 encourage
- 奖励 reward · award
- 激励 motivate · inspire
- 勉励 encourage · exhort
Read the story behind the character
A coach 鼓勵 a shy player; 奖勵 is the sticker a teacher hands out by the dozen. 激勵 trends in a speech clip shared before exams, and 勵勉 closes a principal's letter. The word runs from a bonus paid in the quarter to the quiet “you can” a parent repeats at a child's desk.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Shěn Dù 沈度, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.