激发内生动力

You use this when you want to sound professional yet insightful. It’s great for talking about leadership, education, or even your own fitness journey. You usually pair it with a subject like 'students,' 'employees,' or 'rural residents.' For example, instead of saying 'make them work harder,' you say 'we need to 激发 their 内生动力.' It sounds much more respectful and sustainable. It implies you are empowering them, not just controlling them.

Use this in a meeting when discussing team morale. It works perfectly in a parent-teacher conference. You can even use it with a friend who is feeling stuck in their career. It’s a favorite in Chinese news when talking about helping people out of poverty. It suggests that the best help is teaching someone how to help themselves. It’s a very 'C-suite' or 'expert' level expression.

Don't use this for tiny, trivial things. If you’re asking your roommate to wash the dishes, don't say you want to 激发 their 内生动力. That sounds like you’re giving a government speech in your kitchen. They will probably roll their eyes at you. Also, avoid it in very casual flirting or light banter. It’s a heavy, academic-sounding phrase that needs a serious context to land well.

This phrase became a massive buzzword in China’s poverty alleviation campaigns. The government realized that just giving money wasn't enough. People needed the desire to improve their own lives. It shifted the focus from 'giving fish' to 'teaching to fish.' Now, it has spread into corporate culture and parenting. It reflects a cultural shift toward valuing individual initiative and psychological ownership.

You might hear 增强内生动力 (strengthen) or 提升内生动力 (elevate). Sometimes people just say 内生动力 on its own when describing a person’s character. For example, 'He has a very strong 内生动力.' This means he is a self-starter. It’s a high compliment for a professional or a student.