encourage, be diligent, inspire
励 centers on pushing forward with effort and spirit: encouraging others, being diligent oneself, and inspiring action.
励 combines 厉 (a variant of 厲, meaning 'whetstone' or 'encourage') with 力 (strength), suggesting the idea of sharpening one's effort or encouraging with strength.
The left side 厉 looks like a cliff 厂 over a tool 万, and the right side 力 is strength. Picture someone sharpening a tool on a cliffside with great effort, encouraging you to be diligent.
For レイ, imagine a coach shouting 'Lay it all out!' to encourage the team: 'Lay' -> レイ, and the team is inspired to give their full strength.
to encourage; to cheer on; to cheer (someone) up
encouragement; promotion; inducement; incitement; stimulation
to work hard; to try hard; to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to devote oneself to; to make an effort; to be zealous
encouragement; incentive; stimulus
encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)
excitation
strict observance (of rules, regulations, etc.); strict adherence; conscientious practice (of good habits, etc.); diligent execution (e.g. of duties); sticking to (e.g. a routine)
separate excitation
being arduous; working diligently enduring hardships
being arduous; working diligently enduring hardships; making a strenuous effort
making strenuous efforts; exerting oneself
encouragement; cheering on
competition; emulation; rivalry
to vie with another; to emulate each other
shouts of encouragement
giving cries of encouragement at a critical moment
cries of encouragement; shouting encouragement
excitation
excitation (drive); stimulus
exciter (driver)