noun
high spirits; fiery enthusiasm; boastful talk
Refers to a spirited, passionate, or fiery attitude, often in speech or behavior. Can imply boastful or bombastic talk, especially in the phrase 気炎を上げる (to talk big, to make a fiery speech).
彼は会議で気炎を上げて、自分の意見を力説した。
He talked big at the meeting and forcefully argued his opinion.
若者たちは気炎を吐きながら、将来の夢を語り合った。
The young people spoke with fiery enthusiasm, sharing their dreams for the future.
Compound of 気 (spirit, mood) and 炎 (flame, blaze), literally 'spirit flame'. The variant 気焔 uses 焔, an older character for flame. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word evokes a blazing, passionate spirit.