Translation guide
To make someone feel happier, more hopeful, or more energetic. Japanese expressions vary by whether you are cheering someone up, lifting their mood, or giving them encouragement.
To make a sad or downcast person feel happier, often through kind words or actions.
A common, versatile verb meaning to cheer someone up or lift their spirits. Can be used in many situations.
I bought flowers to cheer up my friend.
Her words raised my spirits.
To encourage or cheer someone up, often with words of support. Slightly more focused on emotional encouragement.
I cheered up my friend who was feeling down.
He always raises my spirits.
Literally 'raise one's mood'. Casual and commonly used for lifting someone's spirits, often through fun activities or music.
This song raises my spirits.
Talking with my friend lifted my mood.
To inspire hope or courage in someone who is discouraged or facing difficulties.
To make a group or situation more lively and energetic, raising everyone's spirits.
To soothe or console someone who is upset, thereby lifting their spirits.
To comfort or console. Focuses on easing sadness or pain.
I comforted the crying child and raised his spirits.
Both mean to cheer someone up, but 元気づける is more about restoring energy and mood, while 励ます emphasizes encouragement and support. 元気づける can be done through actions or words, while 励ます is primarily verbal.
To cheer up my friend, we watched a movie together.
I encouraged my friend who failed the exam.
Avoid directly translating 'raise someone's spirits' as 精神を上げる or similar. These sound unnatural. Use the expressions above instead.
I was encouraged by the teacher's words.
The news raised the patients' spirits.
Her smile raised the spirits of the room.
Her kind words comforted me and lifted my spirits.