励

to encourage; strive; diligent

Kanji 1919

Inspiring others, and working so diligently that one torments oneself! Our kanji spans these very different ideas, with zeal as the connection. Learn to say, “She encouraged him to write a novel,” “His success greatly encouraged me,” and “Give her a pep talk,” as well as “Instead of taking a break, he worked much harder than usual” and “Her courage during her illness is an inspiration to us all.”  

Revision history:

June 22, 2021: p. 1 look-alikes: Changed the definition of 栃 from "horse chestnut" to "Japanese horse chestnut."

Sept. 25, 2020: Originally published.