Chinese Character: 勉
1. Character Basics
Radical: \u0022力\u0022 (lì, \u0022power\u0022/\u0022strength\u0022)
Stroke Count: 9 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: miǎn (Third tone)
3. Meaning
To encourage; to exert oneself; to strive; to make an effort; to force; to urge
4. Common Words
- \u0022鼓励\u0022 (gǔlì) - \u0022to encourage\u0022
- \u0022勉励\u0022 (miǎnlì) - \u0022to encourage\u0022; \u0022to urge\u0022
- \u0022勉强\u0022 (miǎnqiǎng) - \u0022to force\u0022; \u0022to do with difficulty\u0022
- \u0022努力\u0022 (nǔlì) - \u0022to make efforts\u0022; \u0022hard work\u0022
- \u0022自勉\u0022 (zìmian) - \u0022to encourage oneself\u0022
- \u0022勤勉\u0022 (qínmiǎn) - \u0022diligent\u0022; \u0022assiduous\u0022
- \u0022共勉\u0022 (gòngmiǎn) - \u0022to encourage each other\u0022
- \u0022勉強する\u0022 (miǎnqiǎng sù) - \u0022to force oneself\u0022 (Japanese loanword)
5. Grammar & Usage
The character \u0022勉\u0022 (miǎn) is primarily used as a verb meaning \u0022to encourage\u0022 or \u0022to exert oneself\u0022. It is often used in the structure \u0022勉励某人\u0022 (miǎnlì mǒurén) meaning \u0022to encourage someone\u0022. When combined with other characters, it can form verbs like \u0022勉强\u0022 (miǎnqiǎng) which means \u0022to force\u0022 or \u0022to do with difficulty\u0022. In this case, it is often used in the structure \u0022勉强做某事\u0022 (miǎnqiǎng zuò mǒushì) meaning \u0022to force oneself to do something\u0022. \u0022勉\u0022 can also be used as a noun, but this usage is less common. It is important to note that \u0022勉\u0022 is usually used in written Chinese or formal contexts rather than in casual conversation.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of \u0022勉\u0022 (miǎn) is deeply rooted in the values of self-improvement and perseverance. It is often associated with the Confucian idea of continuous effort and striving for excellence. The character \u0022勉\u0022 is commonly used in idioms and proverbs that emphasize the importance of hard work and encouragement. For example, \u0022勉強為之\u0022 (miǎnqiǎng wéizhī) means \u0022to do something with great effort\u0022. In traditional Chinese society, scholars and officials would often use \u0022勉\u0022 in letters and essays to encourage others to study hard and contribute to society. Today, the character remains an important part of Chinese culture, symbolizing the value of diligence and self-motivation.
7. Example Sentence
老师鼓励学生们要努力学习。
The teacher encourages the students to study hard.
8. Memory Tips
The character \u0022勉\u0022 (miǎn) can be remembered by breaking it down into its components: the left part is \u0022免\u0022 (miǎn) meaning \u0022to exempt\u0022 and the right part is \u0022力\u0022 (lì) meaning \u0022power\u0022 or \u0022strength\u0022. Together, they suggest the idea of \u0022exerting strength\u0022 or \u0022encouraging\u0022. You can also associate \u0022勉\u0022 with common words like \u0022努力\u0022 (nǔlì) meaning \u0022to make efforts\u0022 or \u0022鼓励\u0022 (gǔlì) meaning \u0022to encourage\u0022 to help with memorization. Another tip is to practice writing the character several times while saying its pronunciation and meaning out loud. The stroke order is also important: start with the top horizontal stroke, then the vertical stroke, followed by the left and right parts.