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March 24, 2026
勇敢yǒnggǎn(yong3gan3)
勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) means brave or courageous, often referring to someone who shows the ability to confront fear or challenges. This term is frequently used to describe acts of valor in both everyday situations and extraordinary circumstances, such as facing dangers or making difficult decisions.
Strokes20Frequency#1828DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture,勇敢 is often celebrated in stories of historical figures or folklore, such as the legendary hero who defends his village. This reflects the value placed on bravery in both personal and communal contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong warrior (勇) with a heart (敢) that beats bravely against the odds. The character 勇 combines the radical for strength with the idea of daring, creating a vivid picture of someone who bravely faces challenges.
Meanings of 勇敢
yǒnggǎn(yong3gan3)
1brave
2courageous
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About 勇敢
勇敢Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1828Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 勇敢
Podcast: 勇敢
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AI Study Notes for 勇敢
Quick Contrast
勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) vs 大胆 (dàdǎn) — use 勇敢 for moral courage and facing fears, while 大胆 emphasizes boldness and willingness to take risks.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 勇敢 with words like 大胆 (dàdǎn), which also means bold but has a slightly different nuance related to recklessness. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound overly dramatic in everyday conversation if used excessively.
HSK Study Tips
As a HSK Level 4 word, 勇敢 connects well with other adjectives describing qualities such as 友好 (friendly) and 聪明 (smart). Focus on using it in sentences to describe actions or characteristics of people, which will deepen your understanding of its usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 勇敢 with the word 勇气 (yǒngqì), which means courage as a noun rather than an adjective. For example, saying '他是勇气' (Tā shì yǒngqì) is incorrect; it should be '他很勇敢' (Tā hěn yǒnggǎn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 勇敢
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勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) means brave or courageous, often referring to someone who shows the ability to confront fear or challenges. This term is frequently used to describe acts of valor in both everyday situations and extraordinary circumstances, such as facing dangers or making difficult decisions.
When to use 勇敢
Be careful not to confuse 勇敢 with words like 大胆 (dàdǎn), which also means bold but has a slightly different nuance related to recklessness. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound overly dramatic in everyday conversation if used excessively.
勇敢 or something close to it
勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) vs 大胆 (dàdǎn) — use 勇敢 for moral courage and facing fears, while 大胆 emphasizes boldness and willingness to take risks.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 勇敢 with the word 勇气 (yǒngqì), which means courage as a noun rather than an adjective. For example, saying '他是勇气' (Tā shì yǒngqì) is incorrect; it should be '他很勇敢' (Tā hěn yǒnggǎn).
Write 勇敢
勇
敢
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Grammar Patterns of 勇敢
勇敢 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
