励

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to encourage; to urge

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

力 meaning “strength” + 厉 sound ( lì )

Components 厉力

encourage · Heisig RSH #736

cliff + 万 ten thousand + muscle

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
励精图治	lì jīng tú zhì	(of a ruler) to strive to make one's nation strong and prosperous (idiom)
激励机制	jī lì jī zhì	incentive mechanism; incentives
奖励旅行	jiǎng lì lǚ xíng	incentive travel
奖励旅游	jiǎng lì lǚ yóu	incentive travel
励志哥	lì zhì gē	(coll.) a guy who is admired for having overcome challenges to achieve success
王励勤	Wáng Lì qín	Wang Liqin (1978-), former PRC table tennis player, Olympic medalist
励志	lì zhì	to pursue a goal with determination; inspirational; motivational
鼓励	gǔ lì	to encourage
激励	jī lì	to encourage; to urge; motivation; incentive
奖励	jiǎng lì	to reward; reward (as encouragement)
策励	cè lì	to encourage; to urge; to impel; to spur sb on
勉励	miǎn lì	to encourage

Characters sharing the sound component 厉 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
厉 sound part	lì	whetstone; to grind, to sharpen, to whet
蛎	lì	oyster