勇気

• Reading: ゆうき
• Romaji: yuuki
• Kanji breakdown: 勇 (yuu) — brave, courageous; 気 (ki) — spirit, energy
• Pronunciation: /jɯː.ki/

Meaning

Courage; bravery; valor. The mental strength to face fear or difficulty.

A noun often used with を出す (to muster) or がある (to have). 勇気を出す is a very common expression meaning to summon one's courage. Frequently appears in encouraging contexts and is a key value in Japanese culture, from historical samurai ideals to modern motivational speech.

Examples

1. 勇気を出して告白した。 I mustered up the courage and confessed my feelings.
2. 一人で海外に行く勇気がすごいと思う。 I think it takes a lot of courage to go abroad alone.
3. あの映画を見て勇気をもらった。 That movie gave me courage.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, motivation, storytelling

Tone: inspiring

Origin & History

Compound of 勇 (yuu, brave/courageous) and 気 (ki, spirit/energy). Literally means the spirit of bravery — the inner energy that drives courageous action.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal