鞭策 biāncè to spur on
to spur on; to urge on; to encourage somebody (e.g. to make progress)
How to remember 鞭策: 鞭 whip + 策 to urge = to spur on.
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How it is used
- To spur someone on / motivate them to do better - 老师的话鞭策着我 (lǎoshī de huà biāncè zhe wǒ) the teacher's words spur me on.
- Positive figurative use of 'whip'; means to urge/push toward progress, often self-motivation (自我鞭策).
- Formal/literary; contrast 鼓励 (gǔlì, to encourage warmly) - 鞭策 adds a sense of driving/prodding forward.