Expressing “to encourage” with 鼓动, 鼓励, and 鼓舞
All these verbs have a similar translation, but they are used in different ways.
The verb 鼓动
We use the verb 鼓动 
to induce someone to do certain things.
to induce someone to do certain things. Pay attention
We can use 鼓动 in either positive or negative sentences.
Examples
银行积极鼓动人们贷款
Banks actively encourage people to take out loans
yínháng jījí gǔdòng rénmen dàikuǎn
那件事是在他的鼓动下干的
That was done at his instigation
nà jiàn shì shì zài tā de gǔdòng xià gàn de
她终于鼓动他行动起来
She finally encouraged him to act
tā zhōngyú gǔdòng tā xíngdòng qǐlái
The verb 鼓励
We use 鼓励 when encouraging someone to do or think in a certain way.
when encouraging someone to do or think in a certain way. Pay attention
The verb 鼓励 is usually used in positive sentences.
Examples
父母鼓励一切可能的活动
Those parents encourage their kids to try all the activities
fùmǔ gǔlì yí qiè kěnéng de huódòng
好的教师鼓励独立思考
Good teachers encourage independent thinking
hǎo de jiàoshī gǔlì dúlì sīkǎo
鼓励 as a noun
Sometimes 鼓励 can also be a noun with the meaning of “encouragement”.
Examples
他轻拍她肩膀以示鼓励
He tapped her on the shoulder as a sign of encouragement
tā qīng pāi tā jiānbǎng yǐshì gǔlì
The verb 鼓舞
We use the verb 鼓舞 to indicate that someone or something encourages people to have certain feelings or thoughts.
to indicate that someone or something encourages people to have certain feelings or thoughts. Pay attention
We should only use 鼓舞 in a positive sentences.
Examples
演员们的热情鼓舞着孩子们
The actors’ enthusiasm inspires the children
yǎnyuánmen de rèqíng gǔwǔ zhe háizimen
这些结果是鼓舞人心的
hese results are inspiring
zhè xiē jiéguǒ shì gǔwǔ rénxīn de
鼓舞 as a noun
Sometimes 鼓舞 can be used as a noun meaning “inspiration/encouragement”.
Examples
她的话对他们是极大的鼓舞
Her words were a great encouragement to them
tā de huà duì tāmen shì jí dà de gǔwǔ
他话中的要点使我深受鼓舞
I was inspired by the main point of his speech
tā huà zhōng de yāodiǎn shǐ wǒ shēnshòu gǔwǔ