noun
put-on cheerfulness; forced courage; show of bravery
Describes a display of energy or courage that is not genuine, often to hide fear or weakness. The word implies the person is acting brave rather than feeling it.
彼の明るい態度は付け元気に過ぎなかった。
His cheerful attitude was nothing more than put-on cheerfulness.
試合前、選手たちは付け元気で声を張り上げてい
Before the match, the players were shouting with forced courage.
空元気 also means false cheerfulness, but 付け元気 emphasizes a deliberate act of putting on a brave front, while 空元気 can imply empty or hollow energy without necessarily the conscious effort.
強がり refers to pretending to be strong or tough, often in a defensive way. 付け元気 is more about displaying cheerfulness or courage outwardly.
Compound of 付け (つけ, 'attaching' or 'putting on') and 元気 (げんき, 'energy' or 'spirit'), literally 'attached energy'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word likely arose from the idea of putting on a show of spirit.