勉 miǎn to endeavor
to endeavor; to make an effort; to urge
How to remember 勉: 免 avoid + 力 power = to endeavor. The lazy teen wants to avoid gym class, but the coach tells her to find her power and at least to endeavor.
Component breakdown
勉 = 免 avoid + 力 power
- 免 avoid
- ⺈ bow
- 口 mouth
- 丿 falling stroke
- 乚 hook
- 力 power
The lazy teen wants to avoid gym class, but the coach tells her to find her power and at least to endeavor.
How it is used
- Bound morpheme meaning 'to make an effort / to urge on' - most common in 勉强 (miǎnqiǎng) reluctantly, barely, and 勉励 (miǎnlì) to encourage.
- 勉强 carries a sense of doing something with difficulty or against one's will: 他勉强同意 (tā miǎnqiǎng tóngyì) he grudgingly agreed.
- Rarely stands alone in modern speech.