yǒngqì: 勇气 - Courage, Bravery, Valor

• Keywords: 勇气, yǒngqì, yongqi, Chinese word for courage, bravery in Chinese, what is yongqi, how to say brave in Chinese, Chinese culture courage, HSK 4 vocabulary, valor, guts, spirit, Chinese character for courage
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 勇气 (yǒngqì), the powerful Chinese word for courage and bravery. This page explores the cultural significance of `yǒngqì`, breaking down the characters 勇 (yǒng) and 气 (qì) to reveal its deeper meaning of “brave spirit.” Learn how to use it in everyday conversation with practical examples, and understand its nuances compared to related terms, making it an essential concept for any learner of Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒngqì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.
• In a Nutshell: 勇气 (yǒngqì) is the internal strength and spirit that allows you to face challenges. It's not just about the absence of fear, but about acting despite fear. Think of it as a “brave energy” or “valiant spirit” that drives you to do what is right or necessary. It's a highly respected virtue in Chinese culture, encompassing everything from the valor of a soldier to the personal bravery of speaking the truth.

• 勇 (yǒng): This character means “brave,” “valiant,” or “courageous.” It is composed of a top part that historically suggested force or action, and the bottom part 力 (lì), which means “strength” or “power.” So, 勇 (yǒng) fundamentally represents the application of strength in a brave manner.
• 气 (qì): This is one of the most profound characters in Chinese. It means “air” or “gas,” but more abstractly, it refers to “spirit,” “vital energy,” “morale,” or “disposition.” It's the “qi” in Qigong (气功) and represents the life force.
• When combined, 勇气 (yǒngqì) literally translates to “brave spirit” or “courageous energy.” This is a beautiful and insightful construction: courage isn't just a choice or an action, but an internal, spiritual quality—a type of energy you possess and can cultivate.

In Chinese culture, 勇气 (yǒngqì) is deeply respected, but it's often valued most when it serves a righteous or collective purpose. It's closely tied to the concept of 义 (yì), or “righteousness/justice.” The ideal courage is not reckless or self-serving but is channeled towards upholding moral principles, protecting one's family, or serving the community or nation. This contrasts subtly with some Western portrayals of courage, which can sometimes glorify the “lone wolf” hero acting on individual conviction. While individual bravery is also celebrated in China, the cultural ideal often praised is the person who shows 勇气 (yǒngqì) for a greater good. For example, the idiom 见义勇为 (jiànyìyǒngwéi)—“to see what is right and act bravely”—is a highly praised virtue. This links courage directly to social responsibility, a cornerstone of Confucian-influenced societies. It's not just having guts; it's having the right kind of guts for the right reason.

勇气 (yǒngqì) is a common and versatile word used in many modern contexts.

• Encouragement: People often use it to encourage others. Telling a friend to “summon their courage” (鼓起勇气 gǔqǐ yǒngqì) before a job interview, a difficult conversation, or a public performance is very common.
• Praise: It's used to praise someone's actions, from a whistleblower exposing corruption (他很有勇气 tā hěn yǒu yǒngqì - “He has a lot of courage”) to a child admitting they broke a vase.
• Self-Reflection: In personal narratives, social media posts, or diaries, people talk about needing or lacking courage to pursue a dream, end a bad relationship, or change careers.
• Formality: The term is neutral in formality. It can be used in formal speeches about national heroes and in casual chats between friends. Its connotation is almost always positive and admirable.

• Example 1:
  • 他终于鼓起勇气向她表白了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhōngyú gǔqǐ yǒngqì xiàng tā biǎobái le.
  • English: He finally summoned the courage to confess his feelings to her.
  • Analysis: 鼓起勇气 (gǔqǐ yǒngqì) is a very common set phrase meaning “to pluck up/summon courage.” It implies an internal effort to overcome fear.
• Example 2:
  • 面对困难，我们不能失去勇气。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì kùnnan, wǒmen bùnéng shīqù yǒngqì.
  • English: When facing difficulties, we must not lose courage.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 勇气 as a quality that can be “lost” (失去 shīqù). It's treated as a valuable internal resource.
• Example 3:
  • 我很佩服你的勇气，敢于说出真相。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn pèifú nǐ de yǒngqì, gǎnyú shuōchū zhēnxiàng.
  • English: I really admire your courage to dare to speak the truth.
  • Analysis: Here, 勇气 is linked to the moral act of speaking the truth. 佩服 (pèifú) means “to admire,” a common verb used with 勇气.
• Example 4:
  • 消防员的勇气和无私奉献精神值得我们学习。
  • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuán de yǒngqì hé wúsī fèngxiàn jīngshén zhídé wǒmen xuéxí.
  • English: The firefighters' courage and selfless spirit of dedication are worthy of our study.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal example, associating 勇气 with heroism and professionalism, particularly in public service roles.
• Example 5:
  • 承认自己的错误需要很大的勇气。
  • Pinyin: Chéngrèn zìjǐ de cuòwù xūyào hěn dà de yǒngqì.
  • English: It takes great courage to admit one's own mistakes.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights moral courage—the strength to be vulnerable and accountable.
• Example 6:
  • 只要有勇气，就没有克服不了的挑战。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào yǒu yǒngqì, jiù méiyǒu kèfú bùliǎo de tiǎozhàn.
  • English: As long as you have courage, there are no challenges that cannot be overcome.
  • Analysis: A classic motivational sentence structure. 只要…就… (zhǐyào…jiù…) means “as long as…then…”
• Example 7:
  • 她没有勇气辞掉稳定的工作去创业。
  • Pinyin: Tā méiyǒu yǒngqì cídiào wěndìng de gōngzuò qù chuàngyè.
  • English: She doesn't have the courage to quit her stable job to start a business.
  • Analysis: This shows the practical application of 勇气 in modern life decisions, specifically regarding career risks.
• Example 8:
  • 是什么给了你继续下去的勇气？
  • Pinyin: Shì shénme gěi le nǐ jìxù xiàqù de yǒngqì?
  • English: What gave you the courage to continue?
  • Analysis: This question treats 勇气 as something that can be “given” (给 gěi) or inspired by an external source (e.g., family, belief, a goal).
• Example 9:
  • 他虽然害怕，但勇气让他站了出来。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán hàipà, dàn yǒngqì ràng tā zhàn le chūlái.
  • English: Although he was scared, courage made him stand up.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates that 勇气 is not the absence of fear (害怕 hàipà) but the ability to act despite it.
• Example 10:
  • 那些见义勇为的人都充满了勇气。
  • Pinyin: Nàxiē jiànyìyǒngwéi de rén dōu chōngmǎn le yǒngqì.
  • English: Those people who act bravely for a just cause are all full of courage.
  • Analysis: This links 勇气 directly to the cultural idiom 见义勇为 (jiànyìyǒngwéi), showing its strong moral and social dimension.

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 勇气 (yǒngqì) from 胆量 (dǎnliàng).

• 勇气 (yǒngqì) - Courage/Bravery: This term has a strong moral and noble connotation. It's about the spirit and inner strength to do something difficult, dangerous, or righteous. It's the courage of a hero, a parent, or an activist.
• 胆量 (dǎnliàng) - Guts/Nerve: This term is more neutral and physical. It refers to one's capacity for tolerating fear or taking risks. It's about being daring, but not necessarily for a noble reason. Someone who loves rollercoasters has 胆量大 (dǎnliàng dà) - “big guts.” Someone who does a daredevil stunt has 胆量.

Common Mistake: Using 勇气 for trivial, non-moral risks.

• Incorrect: 我没有勇气去坐过山车。 (Wǒ méiyǒu yǒngqì qù zuò guòshānchē.) - “I don't have the courage to ride a roller coaster.”
• Why it's awkward: Riding a roller coaster is about nerve, not moral bravery. It implies the situation requires a level of spiritual fortitude it doesn't.
• Correct: 我胆子小，不敢坐过山车。 (Wǒ dǎnzi xiǎo, bù gǎn zuò guòshānchē.) - “I have little nerve (am timid), I don't dare to ride a roller coaster.” OR 我没有那么大的胆量。 (Wǒ méiyǒu nàme dà de dǎnliàng.) - “I don't have that much guts.”

In short, use 勇气 (yǒngqì) for admirable, significant acts of bravery. Use 胆量 (dǎnliàng) or 胆子 (dǎnzi) for nerve, guts, or daring in more general or trivial situations.

• 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) - The adjectival form, meaning “brave” or “courageous.” While 勇气 is the noun “courage,” 勇敢 is the description “brave.” (e.g., 一个勇敢的士兵 - a brave soldier).
• 胆量 (dǎnliàng) - A close synonym but refers more to “guts” or “nerve” rather than moral courage. It's about one's capacity to withstand fear.
• 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) - An antonym, meaning “timid” or “cowardly.” Literally “small guts.”
• 鼓起勇气 (gǔqǐ yǒngqì) - A common verb phrase meaning “to summon/pluck up courage.”
• 见义勇为 (jiànyìyǒngwéi) - A highly respected idiom meaning “to see righteousness and act bravely,” i.e., to help someone in need or stand up for justice.
• 英勇 (yīngyǒng) - “Heroic,” “valiant.” This is a more formal and epic word for bravery, often used for soldiers, martyrs, and national heroes.
• 气概 (qìgài) - “Mettle,” “spirit,” “lofty quality.” Refers to a person's heroic or impressive bearing and spirit, often related to their courage.
• 魄力 (pòlì) - “Daring,” “resolution,” “boldness.” This refers specifically to the courage and decisiveness needed to make major decisions, especially in leadership.