勇気|ゆうきyuuki[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nouncourage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
   我々われわれは彼女かのじょの勇気ゆうきに感心かんしんする。↗

   We admire her for her bravery.

• Synonym度胸どきょうNeutralGuts or nerve, as in 「度胸がある」; stresses staying calm in the moment, while 「勇気」 stresses overcoming fear to act.
• Synonym勇ゆうWrittenWritten style for courage, mostly in literary phrases such as 「勇を鼓す」.
• Related大胆だいたんNeutralA na-adjective for bold, daring action, sometimes with a hint of risk-taking; 「勇気」 is a noun for the inner strength to act.
• Related根性こんじょうNeutralGrit and tenacity, as in 「根性がある」; stresses seeing things through to the end, while 「勇気」 stresses daring to begin.
• Related勇猛ゆうもうWrittenWritten style for valor and fearlessness; often describes people or animals in combat.
• Related意気いきNeutralFighting spirit or drive; mostly seen in set phrases like 「意気込み」 and 「意気揚々」.
• Related肝っ玉きもったまCasualColloquial for guts, as in 「肝っ玉母さん」; stresses being bold and unflappable, while 「勇気」 stresses daring to face something.
• Related肝玉きもだまNeutralA variant of 「肝っ玉」 meaning guts; rare in actual use — say 「度胸」 or 「勇気」 instead.
• Related胆力たんりょくWrittenWritten style for the nerve to stay unafraid when things come up; stresses composure rather than the act of facing fear.
• Related剛勇ごうゆうWrittenWritten style for stalwart, martial bravery; often describes warriors or commanders.
• Related胆気たんきWrittenWritten but rare; means guts or boldness of spirit — 「度胸」 is the usual everyday word.
• Related豪気ごうきWrittenWritten style for a heroic, stout-hearted, unyielding spirit.
• Related勇敢さゆうかんさNeutralThe quality of being brave, as in 「その勇敢さに感動した」; 「勇気」 is the inner force that lets you act.
• Related勇力ゆうりょくWrittenWritten but rare; originally meant great strength — say 「勇気」 when you mean courage.
• Relatedど根性どこんじょうCasualEmphatic colloquial form for never-give-up grit, with an encouraging, rousing flavor.
• Antonym臆病おくびょうNeutralTimid and easily frightened — the direct opposite of 「勇気」.
• Antonym怯懦きょうだWrittenWritten style for cowardly, spineless weakness of will; the opposite of 「勇気」.

Use 「勇気」 for the heart that overcomes fear and dares to act. For staying calm on the spot say 「度胸」, for seeing things through 「根性」, for bold action 「大胆」, and for bold, easygoing guts 「肝っ玉」. 「肝っ玉」 and 「ど根性」 are colloquial; 「胆力」「剛勇」「胆気」「勇猛」「豪気」「勇力」「勇」 are written; 「臆病」 and 「怯懦」 are the opposites.

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

1. 恐怖きょうふ、不安ふあん、躊躇ちゅうちょ、あるいは恥はずかしいなどと感かんじることに対たいして、恐おそれることなく積極的せっきょくてきに立ち向たちむかう、あるいはそれらを敢あえて行おこなう強つよい意思いし。