Explore 勇 through words for courage, bravery and encouragement. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

勇 has 9 strokes. Its on-reading is ゆう, as in 勇気（ゆうき） and 勇敢（ゆうかん）; the verb 勇む（いさむ） uses the kun-reading. Follow the linked stroke diagram.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
勇気ゆうきI gathered my courage and asked a question.
勇敢ゆうかんHer brave action saved a child.
勇むいさむThe children eagerly set off.

Examples

  • 勇気ゆうきを出だして、質問しつもんしました。I gathered my courage and asked a question.
  • 彼女かのじょの勇敢ゆうかんな行動こうどうが子こどもを救すくいました。Her brave action saved a child.
  • 彼かれの言葉ことばに勇気ゆうきをもらいました。His words gave me courage.
  • 子こどもたちは勇いさんで出発しゅっぱつしました。The children eagerly set off.
  • 間違まちがいを認みとめるには勇気ゆうきがいります。It takes courage to admit a mistake.
  • 勇敢ゆうかんな消防士しょうぼうしが犬いぬを救すくいました。The brave firefighter rescued the dog.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

勇気 is courage, while 勇敢 describes a brave person or action and is used with な before a noun. 勇む means to be spirited or eager; it is not interchangeable with the noun 勇気.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 勇気 in hiragana.

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    ゆうき

    勇気 is read ゆうき. It names the courage needed to act.

  2. Write the reading of 勇敢 in hiragana.

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    ゆうかん

    勇敢 is read ゆうかん. 勇敢な describes a brave person or action.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿気（ゆうき）［勇／男］.

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    勇

    勇 completes 勇気, read ゆうき; 勇気を出す means to summon courage.

Use it today

Write 勇 using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 勇気 and 勇敢, then make a sentence with one.