勉 meaning and stroke order
To endeavor, to make an effort; to urge
How to write 勉, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 勉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to exhort
- to make an effort
How 勉 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Strength.
力 gives the meaning and 免 hints at the sound.
Radical: 力 (strength), shared by 44 characters on this site.
How to remember 勉
勉 combines 免 (miǎn), which gives the sound, with 力 (lì, strength), which gives the meaning. Picture someone using all their 力 strength to push through, and you have 勉, to make an effort.
勉 rarely appears alone in modern Chinese. It shows up in words like 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng, reluctantly; to force), 勉励 (miǎnlì, to encourage) and 互勉 (hùmiǎn, to encourage each other). Example: 别勉强自己。(Bié miǎnqiǎng zìjǐ.) Don't push yourself too hard.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 勉 with 免 (miǎn, to avoid, to exempt) because they sound identical. Remember that only 勉 has 力 tucked under the right side, and 免费 (miǎnfèi, free of charge) uses 免, not 勉.
Common words with 勉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勉强 | miǎnqiǎng | to do with difficulty; to force sb to do sth | HSK 7-9 |
勉 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 勉
How many strokes are in 勉?
勉 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 勉 mean?
勉 (miǎn) means to endeavor, to make an effort; to urge. A common word with it is 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng), meaning "to do with difficulty; to force sb to do sth".
How do you pronounce 勉?
勉 is pronounced miǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 勉?
The radical of 勉 is 力, which carries the idea of "strength". Dictionaries list 勉 under this radical.
Is 勉 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 勉 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is 勉强 positive or negative?
It usually has a reluctant or barely-enough feeling. 勉强同意 means to agree reluctantly, and 勉强及格 means to barely pass. It is not the same as working hard in a positive sense.
How do I say 'encourage' using 勉?
Use 勉励 (miǎnlì), a formal word often heard in speeches or written messages, as in 老师勉励我们努力学习 (The teacher encouraged us to study hard). In everyday speech, 鼓励 (gǔlì) is more common.