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March 24, 2026
勇yǒng(yong3)
勇 (yǒng) means brave or courageous. It is often used to describe someone who shows bravery in difficult situations, such as a soldier in battle or someone standing up for their beliefs. The word can also carry a nuance of fierceness and determination.
Strokes9Radical力Frequency#8378DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, bravery is often celebrated in stories of historical figures and folklore, such as the legendary hero Guan Yu, symbolizing loyalty and courage. The concept of '勇' is deeply embedded in martial arts culture, where courage is essential.
Memory Tip
Imagine a brave warrior (勇) standing tall, with a heart full of courage. The character combines the radical for 'strength' (力) with the concept of 'bravery,' evoking the image of a strong heart leading to courageous actions.
Meanings of 勇
yǒng(yong3)
1brave
2brave, courageous, fierce
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 勇
勇Simplified
9Strokes
力Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8378Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 勇
Podcast: 勇
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AI Study Notes for 勇
Quick Contrast
勇 (yǒng) vs 大胆 (dàdǎn) — use 勇 for bravery in the face of danger, while 大胆 emphasizes boldness or audacity without the same connotation of courage.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a brave warrior (勇) standing tall, with a heart full of courage. The character combines the radical for 'strength' (力) with the concept of 'bravery,' evoking the image of a strong heart leading to courageous actions.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the tone; 'yǒng' is pronounced with a third tone, which can be confusing for learners. It’s often used in phrases like '勇敢' (yǒnggǎn, courageous) or '勇气' (yǒngqì, bravery). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it’s more conversational.
HSK Study Tips
While '勇' is not an HSK word, it connects well with HSK Level 3 vocabulary like '敢' (gǎn, to dare). Students should focus on how '勇' is used in phrases to express courage and bravery, enriching their understanding of character combinations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, bravery is often celebrated in stories of historical figures and folklore, such as the legendary hero Guan Yu, symbolizing loyalty and courage. The concept of '勇' is deeply embedded in martial arts culture, where courage is essential.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '勇' with '勇敢' (yǒnggǎn), thinking they are interchangeable. However, '勇' alone refers specifically to bravery, while '勇敢' emphasizes the quality of being courageous. Always remember to use them in the correct context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 勇
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Grammar Patterns of 勇
勇 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, bravery is often celebrated in literature and history. Famous figures like Hua Mulan are admired for their courage and strength in the face of adversity.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, bravery is often celebrated in stories of historical figures and folklore, such as the legendary hero Guan Yu, symbolizing loyalty and courage. The concept of '勇' is deeply embedded in martial arts culture, where courage is essential.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese proverb states, '勇气是成功的第一步,' meaning 'Courage is the first step to success.' This highlights the importance of bravery in achieving one's goals.
Word Family of 勇
Words Containing This Character19
勇敢yǒnggǎnbrave
勇气yǒngqìcourage勇氣
勇yǒngbrave
勇士a warrior
英勇yīngyǒngheroic
勇于yǒngyúto dare to勇於
勇猛bold and powerful
见义勇为jiànyìyǒngwéiacting heroically in a just cause見義勇為
勇往直前yǒngwǎngzhíqiánto advance bravely
奋勇fènyǒngdauntless奮勇
鼓起勇气to summon one's courage鼓起勇氣
自告奋勇to volunteer for自告奮勇
义勇军volunteer army義勇軍
义勇courageous義勇
散兵游勇lit. straggling and disbanded soldiers (idiom); fig. disorganized uncoordinated action散兵遊勇
英勇牺牲to heroically sacrifice one's life英勇犧牲
白先勇Bai Xianyong (1937-), Chinese-Taiwanese-US novelist of Hui descent
勇武brave
骁勇善战to be brave and good at fighting (idiom)驍勇善戰
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 勇敢 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 勇
Common phrases that include 勇 are '勇士' (yǒngshì), meaning 'warrior,' and '勇气' (yǒngqì), which means 'courage.' These phrases highlight the character's association with bravery and valor.
勇 is pronounced as 'yǒng' in Mandarin. The tone is the third tone, which starts mid, dips down, and then rises. It's important to practice the pronunciation to convey the correct meaning.
勇 (yǒng) means 'brave' or 'courageous' in Chinese. It is often used to describe someone who shows bravery in challenging situations. This character is commonly found in words related to courage and valor.
You can use 勇 in a sentence to express bravery, such as '他非常勇敢' (Tā fēicháng yǒnggǎn), which means 'He is very brave.' It can also be used in phrases like '勇敢面对' (yǒnggǎn miànduì), meaning 'to face bravely.'
'勇' is pronounced as 'yǒng' with a third tone, which is a rising tone.
'勇' is more commonly used in spoken language or informal contexts. In formal writing, you might see it paired with more academic terms.
Common phrases include '勇敢' (yǒnggǎn, courageous) and '勇气' (yǒngqì, bravery).
