勇
Character Story & Explanation
勇 is widely used in modern Chinese to describe moral courage — for example, in media coverage of whistleblowers, firefighters, or doctors during crises. It appears in official slogans like ‘见义勇为’ (jiàn yì yǒng wéi), a legally recognized term meaning 'to bravely uphold justice', often rewarded by local governments. The idiom ‘勇往直前’ (yǒng wǎng zhí qián, 'march forward bravely') is common in motivational contexts, from sports broadcasts to graduation speeches.
The character evolved from seal script (c. 3rd century BCE), where 力 (strength) was combined with 甬 (a phonetic element). No oracle-bone form survives, but by the Warring States period, 勇 consistently meant 'valiant action guided by principle'. Today, Chinese parents may name children Yǒng to express hopes for integrity and resilience — not aggression.
Hi students! Today we’re learning 勇 (yǒng), meaning 'brave' or 'courageous'. It’s an HSK Level 4 character — common in formal speech, literature, and everyday expressions of moral strength. Notice its radical 力 (lì), meaning 'strength' or 'power' — this tells us the character is related to inner or physical force. The right side, 甬 (yǒng), originally referred to a bell-shaped passage or conduit, and here serves as a phonetic component, giving the sound.
Unlike English words like 'fearless', 勇 doesn’t mean absence of fear — it means acting rightly *despite* fear. That’s key in Chinese philosophy: Confucius praised 'courage rooted in righteousness' (义勇, yì yǒng), not recklessness. So when you see 勇, think of moral resolve, not just bravery in battle.
This character appears frequently in compound words and idioms — never alone in modern usage. You’ll hear it in school mottos, news reports about heroes, and even in self-introductions ('I’m brave in facing challenges'). Practice writing it slowly: 9 strokes, starting with the 力 radical on the left — remember, the dot comes before the hook! Keep your strokes clean and balanced.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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