Translation guide
Describes courageous, brave, or heroic actions, efforts, or people. Japanese equivalents range from literary terms for heroism to everyday words for giving one's best effort.
Describing a person or action that is courageously heroic, often in a grand or dramatic context.
Describing a valiant effort or attempt, often in the face of difficulty, without necessarily implying grand heroism.
Referring to a valiant person, a hero.
A brave person, hero. Common in fantasy or storytelling.
勇敢 (ゆうかん) is the standard word for 'brave/valiant' and can be used in most contexts. 勇ましい (いさましい) often describes a gallant or spirited appearance or action, and can sometimes carry a nuance of being showy. 雄々しい (おおしい) is a literary word implying manly heroism and is rarely used in modern conversation.
While 勇敢な努力 (valiant effort) is possible, Japanese often prefers 健闘 (けんとう) or 立派な努力 (りっぱなどりょく) when praising someone's effort in non-heroic contexts like sports or work. Using 勇敢 may sound overly dramatic.
彼は会社を救おうと勇敢な試みをした。
He made a valiant attempt to save the company.
Or: 健闘した (けんとうした) if focusing on the effort itself.
消防士たちは救助活動で勇敢だった。
The firefighters were valiant in their rescue efforts.
The most direct equivalent for 'valiant' in the sense of brave and heroic. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
彼は勇敢な戦士だった。
He was a valiant warrior.
勇敢に戦った。
They fought valiantly.
Brave, gallant, or valiant, often implying a spirited or dashing quality. Can describe appearance or demeanor.
勇ましい行進だった。
It was a valiant march.
Manly, brave, heroic. A more literary and somewhat old-fashioned term.
雄々しい最期を遂げた。
He met a valiant end.
A good fight, valiant effort. Commonly used in sports or competitions to praise a losing side's effort.
彼の健闘を称えたい。
I want to praise his valiant effort.
健闘及ばず敗れた。
They lost despite a valiant effort.
A valiant attempt. Uses 勇敢 (brave) with 試み (attempt).
それは勇敢な試みだったが、失敗に終わった。
It was a valiant attempt, but it ended in failure.
Admirable effort. 立派 means splendid or admirable, and is often used to praise someone's effort.
立派な努力だった。
It was a valiant effort.
彼は真の勇者だ。
He is a true valiant one.
Brave warrior, hero. Slightly more literary than 勇者.
古の勇士たちの物語。
Tales of valiant warriors of old.