Japanese symbol for “encourage”
励ます
はげます
Romaji: hagemasu
to encourage; to cheer on; to cheer (someone) up
In Japanese, encourage is 励ます, read はげます (hagemasu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5s, vt to encourage; to cheer on; to cheer (someone) up
- v5s, vt to raise (one's voice)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “encourage”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 促す | うながす unagasu | to urge; to encourage; to press |
| 勧める | すすめる susumeru | to recommend (someone to do); to advise; to encourage |
| 勇気づける | ゆうきづける yuukizukeru | to encourage; to cheer |
| 力づける | ちからづける chikarazukeru | to encourage (someone); to cheer (someone) up; to give (someone) a charge |
| 鞭打つ | むちうつ muchiutsu | to whip; to lash; to give the rod |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 奨励 | しょうれい shourei | encouragement; promotion; inducement |
| 激励 | げきれい gekirei | encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on) |
| 励まし | はげまし hagemashi | encouragement; cheering on |
| 励む | はげむ hagemu | to work hard; to try hard; to strive |
| 励み | はげみ hagemi | encouragement; incentive; stimulus |
See also: Chinese symbol for “encourage”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.