Details
Description
Courage/Bravery - heroic spirit, valor.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of emerge and power. Power surging up.
Symbolism
Courage, bravery, boldness. Represents mental strength to overcome fear.
Spiritual Meaning
Bushido's "courage" isn't recklessness but courage for righteousness. It means spiritual decisiveness to do right despite fear.
Component Breakdown
Path + power
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
勇往邁進
ゆうおうまいしん
dash and go; pushing forward
知勇兼備
ちゆうけんび
having both wisdom and courage
勇気凛凛
ゆうきりんりん
full of spirit; brimming with courage; high-spirited
勇猛果敢
ゆうもうかかん
daring and resolute; having dauntless courage
忠勇無双
ちゅうゆうむそう
of peerless loyalty and bravery
勇猛精進
ゆうみょうしょうじん
engage in ascetic practices with dauntless spirit
勇猛無比
ゆうもうむひ
most brave; as brave as any; unmatched for valor
匹夫の勇
ひっぷのゆう
The courage of a reckless man; Rash bravery without wisdom
Proverbs & Idioms
勇者は懼れず
ゆうしゃはおそれず
The brave know no fear
True courage means facing danger without fear
Anime & Manga
勇者パーティーを追放されたビーストテイマー
Beast Tamer
Story of protagonist expelled from hero's party
勇者、辞めます
I'm Quitting Heroing
Unique fantasy about a hero quitting to work for demon army
僕のヒーローアカデミア
My Hero Academia
Story of a boy courageously pursuing heroism
盾の勇者の成り上がり
The Rising of the Shield Hero
A well-known work with 勇 in its Japanese title.
慎重勇者～この勇者が俺ＴＵＥＥＥくせに慎重すぎる～
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
A well-known work with 勇 in its Japanese title.
Games
ドラゴンクエストXI
Dragon Quest XI(2017)
Classic RPG saving the world as the 'Hero'
View on Amazon →ゼルダの伝説 ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom(2023)
Adventure of Link bearing the Triforce of Courage
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
坂上田村麻呂
(さかのうえのたむらまろ)Remembered for his courage in the Emishi campaigns
The Heian general sent against the Emishi of the northeast, and the first to hold the title sei-i taishogun. He headed no shogunate; warrior government began four centuries later.
近藤勇
Name contains 勇
Kondō Isami was a Japanese swordsman and samurai of the late Edo period.
Wikipedia上原勇作
Name contains 勇
Marshal Viscount Uehara Yūsaku was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“courage”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 勇 mean in Japanese?
勇 means courage, bravery. Courage/Bravery - heroic spirit, valor.
How do you read 勇?
On'yomi: ユウ (YUU). Kun'yomi: いさ.む (isamu).
How many strokes does 勇 have?
勇 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 力 (power).
Is 勇 a good kanji for a tattoo?
勇 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means courage, bravery. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:courage