鼓励 means 'to encourage' — to give someone support, confidence, or motivation to do something, especially when they feel uncertain, discouraged, or hesitant. The character 鼓 originally means 'drum' and metaphorically suggests 'stimulating' or 'rousing', like beating a drum to energize people; 励 means 'to urge' or 'to inspire', often implying moral or emotional reinforcement. Together, they form a common verb expressing active, positive psychological support.

This word is widely used in educational, workplace, familial, and social contexts — teachers encourage students, parents encourage children, managers encourage staff, and friends encourage each other during challenges. It carries a warm, constructive connotation and is rarely used sarcastically. While it can appear in formal writing, it’s equally natural in everyday speech, often followed by an infinitive-like clause (e.g., 鼓励他努力学习) or a noun (e.g., 鼓励的话).