How to say "encouragement" in Japanese

• 励みはげみCommon
  nounCovers encouragement as a stimulus or incentive — something that spurs a person's own effort. Typical in contexts like finding encouragement in praise or support that motivates continued work.
  昇進しょうしんが見送みおくられた女おんなには働はたらく励はげみがない。↗

  She had no incentive to work after she was refused a promotion.
• 激励げきれいJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveEncouragement as actively spurring or cheering someone on, often toward a goal or through hardship. Common for messages, speeches, or words of encouragement given to athletes, students, or people facing difficulties.
  あなたの激励げきれいがなかったら、この計画けいかくは諦あきらめていたでしょうね。↗

  Without your encouragement, I should have given up the plan.
• 励ましはげましCommon
  no-adjectiveThe everyday word for encouragement as cheering someone on with kind or supportive words. Use this when you mean personal, emotional encouragement from family, friends, or colleagues.
  彼女かのじょにははげましの言葉ことばをかけてあげたらどうですか。↗

  Why don't you see if you can't give her a pep talk?
• 奨励しょうれいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbEncouragement in the formal sense of promoting or endorsing an activity, as by an institution or authority. Fits policy or organizational contexts where something is officially encouraged; seldom the word for personal cheering-on.
  人々ひとびとはフットボールをするように奨励しょうれいさえされたのです。↗

  People were even encouraged to play football.
• 促進そくしんJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectivePrimarily promotion, acceleration, or facilitation of progress, with encouragement as a secondary sense. It is really about pushing something forward, not encouraging a person, so it is seldom what you want for personal encouragement.
  彼かれは平和へいわを促進そくしんするために尽力じんりょくした。↗

  He worked hard to promote peace.

Use 「励まし」 for cheering someone on personally, 「励み」 for a stimulus or incentive, 激励 for active spurring on, and 奨励 or 促進 for formal promotion of activities, the latter emphasizing facilitation.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 励みはげみencouragement
• 激励げきれいencouragement
• 励ましはげましencouragement
• 奨励しょうれいencouragement
• 促進そくしんpromotion
• 振興しんこうpromotion
• 鼓舞こぶencouragement
• 勧奨かんしょうencouragement
• 助長じょちょうpromotion
• 勧めすすめrecommendation
• 勧誘かんゆうinvitation
• 働きかけはたらきかけpressure
• 気付けきつけencouragement
• 鞭撻べんたつencouragement
• 助勢じょせいencouragement
• 督励とくれいencouragement
• エンカレッジencouragement
• 鼓舞激励こぶげきれいencouragement
• ご鞭撻ごべんたつencouragement
• 振起しんきencouragement
• 勇気づけゆうきづけencouragement
• 鼓吹こすいrousing (courage, morale, etc.)
• おすすめrecommendation
• オヌヌメrecommendation
• 声援せいえん(shout of) encouragement
• 檄げきencouragement
• 刺激しげきimpetus
• 張り合いはりあいfeeling that something is worth the effort
• むちencouragement