Translation guide
How to express that someone feels encouraged, motivated, or heartened in Japanese. The best choice depends on whether the encouragement comes from words, actions, or a situation, and whether you want to sound casual or formal.
You want to say that someone's kind words, support, or actions made you feel better, more confident, or motivated.
The passive form of 励ます (to encourage). It directly means 'to be encouraged' and is the most natural way to express receiving encouragement from someone.
友達の言葉に励まされた。
I was encouraged by my friend's words.
I was encouraged by my teacher's advice.
Literally 'to be cheered up'. It emphasizes the emotional lift you get from someone's support or kindness.
彼の笑顔に元気づけられた。
I was cheered up by his smile.
Means 'to be given courage'. Use this when someone's words or actions make you feel braver or more confident to face a challenge.
彼女の成功に勇気づけられた。
I was encouraged (given courage) by her success.
You want to express that a positive result, progress, or situation gives you hope or motivation.
Means 'to become a source of encouragement'. Often used when something serves as motivation or a driving force.
皆さんの応援が励みになります。
Everyone's support is encouraging to me.
少しの進歩でも励みになる。
Even a little progress is encouraging.
You want to say that something motivates you to take action or try harder.
Means 'to feel like doing something'. It implies that you are encouraged or motivated to take action.
彼の話を聞いて、挑戦する気になった。
After hearing his story, I felt encouraged to take on the challenge.
Literally 'to be pushed on the back'. A common idiom meaning to be encouraged or given a nudge to do something.
友達に背中を押されて、留学を決めた。
Encouraged by my friend, I decided to study abroad.
励まされる is the most general and neutral. 元気づけられる focuses on emotional uplift, while 勇気づけられる specifically means being given courage. Use 励まされる when unsure.
彼の手紙に励まされた。
I was encouraged by his letter.
彼の冗談に元気づけられた。
I was cheered up by his joke.
先輩の挑戦に勇気づけられた。
I was given courage by my senior's challenge.
Saying 私は励ます (I encourage) is grammatically correct but sounds like you are encouraging someone else. To say you feel encouraged, use the passive 励まされる or other expressions above.
An adjective meaning 'heartening' or 'reassuring'. It describes the feeling of being encouraged because you have support or something reliable.
君がいてくれると心強い。
It's encouraging to have you here.