鼓舞

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 老师的话鼓舞了我。▶ —
   The teacher’s words inspired me.
2. 胜利的消息鼓舞着全队。▶ —
   The news of victory inspired the whole team.

Collocations

Mnemonic

鼓 gǔ "drum, to rouse" + 舞 wǔ "to dance": to beat the drum and set one dancing, i.e. to inspire, to hearten. Same as the Korean word go-mu (鼓舞). Rousing another’s spirit and courage to strive through words or deeds (鼓舞士气 to boost morale, 鼓舞人心 to inspire people). Unlike 振奋 (spirit rising on its own), 鼓舞 leans toward heartening others (transitive). 鼓 means "drum, to rouse" (鼓励, 鼓掌); 舞 means "to dance" (跳舞, 舞蹈). Like rousing one to dance to a drumbeat.

Related

Quick check

1. What is the nuance of 鼓舞 versus 振奋?

   • heartening others (transitive)
   • spirit rising on its own
   • spirit being broken
   • no change at all