勇敢

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yǒnggǎn: 勇敢 - Brave, Courageous

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: yonggan, 勇敢, how to say brave in Chinese, courage in Chinese, Chinese word for brave, yonggan meaning, brave vs bold Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary
  • Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn), the essential Chinese word for “brave” or “courageous.” This guide explores its character origins, cultural significance, and practical usage in modern China. Discover how to praise someone's bravery, differentiate it from similar terms like “bold” (大胆), and use it correctly with 10 practical example sentences.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒnggǎn
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To be brave, courageous, or valiant in the face of danger, difficulty, or pain.
  • In a Nutshell: 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) is the most common and direct way to say “brave” in Chinese. It describes a highly valued personal quality of facing fear to do the right thing. It can be used to describe the epic courage of a soldier, the moral courage of a whistleblower, or the simple bravery of a child getting a vaccination. It almost always carries a strong, positive connotation of admirable strength and character.

Character Breakdown

  • 勇 (yǒng): This character means “brave” or “courageous” by itself. You can think of it as combining a phonetic component (甬) with 力 (lì), which means “strength” or “power.” So, 勇 fundamentally represents having the strength to be brave.
  • 敢 (gǎn): This character means “to dare” or “to have the nerve to do something.” It implies a willingness to take action despite risks or social pressure.
  • Together, 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) combines the innate quality of “bravery” (勇) with the active choice “to dare” (敢). This creates a well-rounded and powerful concept: not just possessing courage as a feeling, but daring to act on it.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) is a cornerstone virtue, celebrated in folklore, historical epics like *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, and modern stories alike. It's not just about physical fearlessness, but also about moral fortitude—the courage to stand up for justice (仗义执言 - zhàngyì zhíyán), admit one's faults, and protect the collective good.
  • A key difference from the Western concept of “bravery” is its strong link to righteousness (义 - yì) and collective responsibility. While individualistic bravery (“daring,” “maverick”) can be admired in the West, Chinese culture tends to praise bravery most when it serves a purpose greater than the individual—defending one's family, upholding justice, or contributing to society. Reckless or self-serving bravery (bravado) is often seen as foolish, not admirable. The term 勇敢 is reserved for courage that is virtuous and purposeful.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • In Daily Conversation: It's very common to use 勇敢 to praise or encourage someone. A parent will tell their child at the doctor's office, “你真勇敢! (Nǐ zhēn yǒnggǎn!)” - “You're so brave!” You might encourage a friend facing a tough decision by saying, “你需要勇敢一点 (Nǐ xūyào yǒnggǎn yīdiǎn)” - “You need to be a little braver.”
  • In the Workplace: It can be used to describe someone who takes a calculated risk, speaks up in a meeting with a dissenting opinion, or takes responsibility for a mistake. For example, “他勇敢地承认了错误 (Tā yǒnggǎn de chéngrènle cuòwù)” - “He bravely admitted the mistake.”
  • On Social Media and News: The term is often used to describe heroes like firefighters, doctors during a crisis, or activists and whistleblowers who dare to expose wrongdoing. It carries a sense of moral and social respect.
  • Formality: 勇敢 is a standard term that is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It's not slang and is universally understood and respected.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 那个小男孩去看医生，一点儿也没哭，真勇敢。
    • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎo nánhái qù kàn yīshēng, yīdiǎnr yě méi kū, zhēn yǒnggǎn.
    • English: That little boy went to see the doctor and didn't cry at all; he's so brave.
    • Analysis: This is a classic, everyday use of 勇敢 to praise a child for enduring something unpleasant without showing fear.
  • Example 2:
    • 消防员冲进火场救人，他们是非常勇敢的人。
    • Pinyin: Xiāofángyuán chōng jìn huǒchǎng jiù rén, tāmen shì fēicháng yǒnggǎn de rén.
    • English: The firefighters rushed into the fire to save people; they are very courageous people.
    • Analysis: Here, 勇敢 describes the professional and heroic courage required to face extreme danger.
  • Example 3:
    • 她勇敢地辞掉了稳定的工作，去追求自己的梦想。
    • Pinyin: Tā yǒnggǎn de cí diàole wěndìng de gōngzuò, qù zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.
    • English: She bravely quit her stable job to pursue her own dream.
    • Analysis: This shows that 勇敢 isn't just about physical danger. It can also describe making a difficult life decision that goes against the norm. The adverbial form `勇敢地 (yǒnggǎn de)` is used here.
  • Example 4:
    • 面对强敌，士兵们勇敢地战斗。
    • Pinyin: Miànduì qiángdí, shìbīngmen yǒnggǎn de zhàndòu.
    • English: Facing a powerful enemy, the soldiers fought bravely.
    • Analysis: This is a typical context for 勇敢, referring to military valor and patriotism.
  • Example 5:
    • 我希望你能勇敢地面对生活中的所有挑战。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng yǒnggǎn de miànduì shēnghuó zhōng de suǒyǒu tiǎozhàn.
    • English: I hope you can bravely face all the challenges in life.
    • Analysis: A common phrase of encouragement, wishing someone the strength and courage to deal with future difficulties.
  • Example 6:
    • 勇敢不代表不害怕，而是带着恐惧依然前行。
    • Pinyin: Yǒnggǎn bù dàibiǎo bù hàipà, érshì dàizhe kǒngjù yīrán qiánxíng.
    • English: Being brave doesn't mean not being afraid, but rather moving forward despite fear.
    • Analysis: This sentence provides a deeper, more philosophical definition of the word, which is a common understanding in both Chinese and Western cultures.
  • Example 7:
    • 他是第一个勇敢站出来说真话的人。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì dì yī gè yǒnggǎn zhàn chūlái shuō zhēnhuà de rén.
    • English: He was the first person to bravely stand up and speak the truth.
    • Analysis: This highlights the moral dimension of 勇敢—the courage to speak truth to power or go against the group.
  • Example 8:
    • 她在会上勇敢地提出了自己的不同意见。
    • Pinyin: Tā zài huì shàng yǒnggǎn de tíchūle zìjǐ de bùtóng yìjiàn.
    • English: She bravely put forward her dissenting opinion at the meeting.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates a common workplace or social scenario where 勇敢 is needed to express an unpopular view.
  • Example 9:
    • 承认自己的错误是勇敢的表现。
    • Pinyin: Chéngrèn zìjǐ de cuòwù shì yǒnggǎn de biǎoxiàn.
    • English: Admitting your own mistakes is a manifestation of bravery.
    • Analysis: This sentence frames admitting fault not as a weakness, but as an act of courage and integrity.
  • Example 10:
    • 我们需要更多勇敢的领导者来带领我们走出困境。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào gèng duō yǒnggǎn de lǐngdǎozhě lái dàilǐng wǒmen zǒuchū kùnjìng.
    • English: We need more courageous leaders to lead us out of this difficult situation.
    • Analysis: Here, 勇敢 is used to describe a desired quality in a leader—the courage to make tough decisions for the good of the group.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) vs. 大胆 (dàdǎn): This is a critical distinction for learners.
    • 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) means “brave” in a virtuous sense. It implies facing fear for a good reason and is almost always a compliment.
    • 大胆 (dàdǎn) means “bold” or “daring.” It can be neutral or even negative. It describes a willingness to take risks, but doesn't necessarily imply a moral justification. It can sometimes mean “audacious” or “reckless.”
    • Correct Usage: A firefighter is 勇敢. A plan to bungee jump off a bridge could be described as 大胆.
    • Incorrect Usage: Saying a firefighter is `很大胆 (hěn dàdǎn)` is not exactly wrong, but it sounds a bit strange. It focuses on their audacity rather than their admirable courage. It's much better to say `很勇敢 (hěn yǒnggǎn)`. Conversely, calling a risky, perhaps foolish, business plan `勇敢` might be an overstatement unless it involves significant moral courage.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 勇气 (yǒngqì) - The noun form, “courage.” While 勇敢 is the adjective (“brave”), 勇气 is the thing a brave person possesses (“courage”). Ex: 他有很大的勇气 (Tā yǒu hěn dà de yǒngqì) - He has great courage.
  • 大胆 (dàdǎn) - A close synonym meaning “bold” or “daring.” It focuses more on the willingness to take risks and can sometimes imply recklessness, unlike the virtuous connotation of 勇敢.
  • 英雄 (yīngxióng) - “Hero.” A hero is by definition a 勇敢 person.
  • 胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) - The direct antonym of 勇敢, meaning “timid,” “cowardly,” or “fainthearted.”
  • 无畏 (wúwèi) - A more formal and literary term for “fearless” or “dauntless.” It implies a complete lack of fear.
  • 坚强 (jiānqiáng) - “Strong,” “staunch,” or “resilient.” This often describes emotional or mental fortitude in the face of hardship, a quality that is closely related to being 勇敢.
  • 仗义 (zhàngyì) - To be loyal and stand up for justice, especially for a friend. This type of action requires 勇敢.