What does 勇 mean in Japanese?
勇 means courage, bravery, and heroic spirit in Japanese. You will find it in everyday words such as 勇気 (courage), 勇者 (hero, brave person), and 勇敢 (brave, courageous).
For learners, 勇 is best understood through 勇気 — one of the most common and useful compounds. The examples below show how the kanji appears in real words and sentences.
Reading
On’yomi: ユウ (yuu)
Kun’yomi: いさ-む (isa-mu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 勇 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
勇 is not about physical strength. It describes the courage to face difficulty, the bravery to speak up, and the heroic spirit to take decisive action. In 勇気 (courage), it is the inner drive to act; in 勇者 (hero), it describes a person who embodies that quality; in 勇敢 (brave), it emphasizes bold, decisive action in the face of challenge.
Common Words
- 勇気（ゆうき / yuuki） — courage, bravery
- 勇者（ゆうしゃ / yuusha） — hero, brave person
- 勇敢（ゆうかん / yuukan） — brave, courageous
- 勇む（いさむ / isamu） — to be brave, to feel spirited
- 勇ましい（いさましい / isamashii） — brave, heroic, spirited
- 武勇（ぶゆう / buyuu） — martial valor, military prowess
Example Sentences
-
勇気を出して、先生に質問しました。
ゆうきをだして、せんせいにしつもんしました。 / Yuuki o dashite, sensei ni shitsumon shimashita.
I summoned my courage and asked the teacher a question.
-
彼は本当に勇敢な人です。
かれはほんとうにゆうかんなひとです。 / Kare wa hontou ni yuukan na hito desu.
He is a truly brave person.
-
困っている人を助けるのは、勇気がいることです。
こまっているひとをたすけるのは、ゆうきがいることです。 / Komatte iru hito o tasukeru no wa, yuuki ga iru koto desu.
Helping someone in trouble takes courage.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
For English speakers, 勇 is closest to courage or bravery rather than strength. The key compound is 勇気 (yuuki) — literally ‘courageous spirit’ — which you will encounter regularly in everyday Japanese. Phrases such as 勇気を出して (summon your courage), 勇気がある (to have courage), and 勇気がない (to lack courage) are all common. Avoid confusing 勇 with 力 (physical strength): 勇 is the willingness to act, while 力 is the force or ability behind the action.
Summary
勇 means courage and bravery. It is the inner spirit to act despite fear, appearing in words for heroism, boldness, and the encouragement to try.