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JLPT N36画 · 6 strokesradical 勇grade 4freq #930

courage, bravery

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ユウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • いさ.む

Mnemonic

With all his strength (力), the brave hero (雄) faced the dragon, his heart filled with courage (勇) as he prepared to fight.

About this kanji

The kanji 勇 (yū) primarily means "courage" or "bravery." It is often used as a noun, but can also function as a verb, as seen in its kun'yomi reading いさ.む, which means "to be brave" or "to encourage." Common compounds include 勇気 (yūki), meaning "courage," used when someone bravely faces challenges; 勇敢 (yūkan), which translates to "bravery" and often describes those who act with valor; and 勇者 (yūsha), meaning "hero," referring to a person admired for their courage. A useful note is that 勇 often has a positive connotation, emphasizing not just the absence of fear but the presence of strength and determination.

Built from

Example sentences

  • 彼は勇敢なリーダーです。

    He is a brave leader.

Meanings across languages

English
courage, bravery
Tiếng Việt
dũng cảm, can đảm
日本語
勇気, 勇敢
한국어
용기, 용감함
中文
勇气, 勇敢
id
keberanian, kepahlawanan
th
ความกล้า, ความกล้าหาญ
es
coraje, valentía
fr
courage, bravoure
de
Mut, Tapferkeit
pt
coragem, bravura

Common compounds

  • 勇気ゆうきcourage
  • 勇敢ゆうかんbravery, heroism
  • 勇者ゆうしゃhero

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