励: the kanji for encourage; strive
励 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means encourage; strive. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
励 is written in 7 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
励 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 6 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
レイ (rei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 激励げきれい · gekirei | encouragement |
| 奨励しょうれい · shōrei | encouragement; promotion |
| 励行れいこう · reikō | strict observance |
はげむ (hagemu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 励むはげむ · hagemu | to work hard |
| 励みはげみ · hagemi | encouragement; motivation |
はげます (hagemasu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 励ますはげます · hagemasu | to encourage |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 落ち込んでいる友だちを励ました。Ochikonde iru tomodachi o hagemashita.I encouraged a friend who was feeling down.
- 毎日練習に励んでいる。Mainichi renshū ni hagende iru.I'm working hard at practice every day.
- みんなの応援が励みになった。Minna no ōen ga hagemi ni natta.Everyone's support motivated me.
- 大会の前に選手を激励した。Taikai no mae ni senshu o gekirei shita.We cheered on the athletes before the tournament.
- 手洗いを励行しよう。Tearai o reikō shiyō.Let's make sure to wash our hands.
Questions about 励
How many strokes does 励 have?
励 is written in 7 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 励?
The on readings are rei (レイ). The kun readings are hagemu (はげむ), hagemasu (はげます).
What JLPT level is 励?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Movement and actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 励
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.