健気|けなげkenage[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. na-adjective, nounadmirable; commendable; praiseworthy; laudable; brave; heroic; noble; courageous
   彼かれが直向ひたむきに生いきるその姿すがたは実じつに健気けなげです。↗

   The single-minded way he gets on with his life is truly admirable.

• Related勇敢ゆうかんNeutralFearless and ready to take on danger; applies to anyone, whereas 「健気」 is reserved for the young or weak bravely holding on.
• Related勇ましいいさましいCasualBrave and stirring, often with a heroic dash and sometimes faintly ironic; colloquial, and it does not stress that the person is small or weak.
• Related勇猛ゆうもうWrittenDaring and fearless, typically of warriors and soldiers; formal prose, and it lacks 「健気」's tender admiration for the underdog.
• Related果敢かかんWrittenBold, decisive action stressing resolve, as in 「果敢に挑む」; formal prose, about decisiveness rather than the weak bravely enduring.
• Related壮烈そうれつWrittenFierce, heroic intensity, as in 「壮烈な戦い」 or 「壮烈な最期」; formal prose, while 「健気」 praises the effort of the small and weak.
• Related剛毅ごうきWrittenFirm, unyielding willpower that hardship cannot break; stresses inner strength and belongs to formal prose.
• Related必死ひっしNeutralFrantic, all-out effort as if life were at stake; it depicts the desperate state and carries none of 「健気」's fond admiration.
• Related雄々しいおおしいWrittenManly and heroic, stressing rugged strength; found in written prose. 「健気」 highlights a weak person's effort, so both can describe the same person.
• Related凛々しいりりしいNeutralA gallant, dignified look or bearing, stressing outward appearance, as in 「凛々しい姿」; 「健気」 praises the striving itself.
• Antonym弱気よわきNeutralTimid and shrinking for lack of confidence; the opposite of 「健気」's gritted-teeth persistence.
• Antonym意気地なしいくじなしCasualColloquial for a spineless coward who flees difficulty — the opposite of someone small and weak yet bravely hanging on.

Choose 「健気」 to praise a child or someone small and weak bravely gritting through hardship. For bravery in general use 「勇敢」 or 「勇ましい」; for bold decisiveness 「果敢」; for a desperate, all-out effort 「必死」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 年少ねんしょうであったり力ちからが弱よわかったりする者ものが困難こんなんな物事ものごとに対たいし懸命けんめいに立ち向たちむかう様子ようす。