The word 鼓励 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a key aspect of the overall concept. The first character, 鼓 (gǔ), originally meaning "drum", carries the sense of to drum up, to rouse, or to stimulate into action, much like beating a drum to motivate troops. The second character, 励 (lì), means to exhort, to urge, or to encourage someone to persevere and strive. Together, they form a compound where 鼓 provides the imagery of sparking initial impetus or morale, while 励 adds the dimension of urging continuous effort and fortitude, resulting in the comprehensive meaning of "to encourage".