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One of the best Japanese Kanji dictionary.
The kanji most commonly used for "Courage" are 勇、胆.
勇
勇 is courage in the plain sense: bravery, valour, the willingness to act. It is the character in 勇気 (courage) and 勇敢 (brave), and it is common in given names such as Isamu and Yū.
敢 is the daring edge of courage — venturing, presuming to act despite risk. 胆 is literally the gallbladder, which Japanese treats as the seat of nerve, giving 大胆 (bold) and 胆力 (nerve, pluck).
Beware the near-misses. 怯 and 臆 look like they belong to this family and do not: both mean timid or cowardly, the opposite of what you want.
勇 is the character for courage and is safe to use. Do not substitute 怯 or 臆 — they appear in dictionary lists near "courage" only because their definitions contain the phrase "lacking courage", and both mean cowardly.
What is Onyomi?
Onyomi, also known as the "Sino-Japanese reading," is one of the two main reading systems for kanji characters in Japanese. It refers to the reading of a kanji character that is derived from the original Chinese pronunciation.
What is Kunyomi?
Kunyomi, also known as the "native Japanese reading," is one of the two main reading systems for kanji characters in Japanese. It refers to the reading of a kanji character that is based on the native Japanese pronunciation. Kunyomi readings are often used when a kanji character stands alone or is followed by hiragana, as in verbs and adjectives. Mastering both kunyomi and onyomi is crucial for understanding and using kanji effectively in the Japanese language.
What is Radical?
A radical, also known as "bushu" in Japanese, is a fundamental component of kanji characters. Radicals are the building blocks of kanji and are used to categorize and organize them in dictionaries. There are 214 traditional radicals, each with its own meaning, which often provides a clue to the meaning of the kanji character it forms.
What is strokes?
Stroke count, or "kakusuu" in Japanese, refers to the number of individual brushstrokes required to write a kanji character. Each kanji has a specific stroke order and stroke count, which are essential for writing the character correctly and legibly. Understanding and following the correct stroke order not only ensures proper balance and aesthetics but also makes writing more efficient and fluid.