勇 means “courage, brave”

ゆう · yuu

Also: cheer up, be in high spirits, bravery

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いさむ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ユウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 9 strokes

The story

Picture a man (男) with a plume on his helmet (マ), ready to charge: courage. 勇気 is bravery, 勇ましい is bold and stirring, and the 勇者, the hero, is who you play in Dragon Quest and the many games that followed it.

Used in 勇気 (yuuki, courage), 勇ましい (isamashii, brave/bold), and 勇者 (yuusha, hero)

More from Warriors & Rivals

• 隻 counter for ships
• 防 prevent
• 武 martial
• 被 suffer
• 兵 soldier
• 競 compete
• 将 commander
• 暴 violent
• 圧 pressure
• 爆 explode
• 乱 disorder
• 刺 stab

Learn 勇 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.