自勉

zìmiǎn
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 to encourage oneself
  2. 2 to spur oneself on

Examples

HSK 4
Tā bǎ zhè jù huà xiě zài běnzi shàng, yònglái zìmiǎn.
He wrote the line in his notebook to spur himself on.
HSK 7-9
Tā yìzhí yǐ " zìqiáng-bùxī " sì ge zì zìmiǎn.
She has always taken the four characters "strive ceaselessly" as her motto.

Tips

usage
The usual frame is 以 + a motto + 自勉, "to take something as one's motto". Its partner 共勉 means "to encourage each other", and 与大家共勉 ("let us all take this to heart") is a common way to close a speech or a letter of advice.

Stroke Order

自 zì
勉 miǎn