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英気 (えいき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

英えい気き

え

い

き

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

vigor; energy; willpower

Most common in expressions such as 英気を養う, meaning to restore or build up the energy, morale, or strength needed to face work or a challenge.

週しゅう末まつは温

おん

泉せん

で

英えい

気き

を

養やしな

っ

た

。

I restored my energy at a hot spring over the weekend.

十じゅう分ぶんに休やすんで、明日あしたの試し合あいに向むけて英えい気きを養やしなおう。

Let's get plenty of rest and build up our strength for tomorrow's match.

2

great wisdom; excellent disposition; outstanding spirit

A rarer, more literary or evaluative use referring to exceptional intelligence, character, or innate quality rather than physical or mental energy.

古ふるい評ひょう伝でんでは、英えい気きがすぐれた才さい知ちや気き質しつを指さして使つかわれることがある。
In older biographical writing, 英気 is sometimes used to refer to exceptional intellect or character.

Usage patterns

英えい気きを取とり戻もどすto regain one's vigor
旅りょ行こうに行いって英えい気きを取とり戻もどした。
I went on a trip and regained my vigor.

Expressions

英えい気きを養やしなうrestore one's energy; recharge one's batteries; restore one's spirits

Kanji

英England, English, hero
気spirit, mind, air

Related words

元げん気きN5sense 2
元気 is the everyday word for being lively or feeling well, while 英気 is a more literary term specifically for the vigor one builds up to face a challenge.
気き力りょくN1sense 2
気力 emphasizes mental willpower or motivation, whereas 英気 is mainly used in set phrases like 英気を養う, meaning to restore vigor for what lies ahead.
活かつ力りょくN2sense 2
活力 describes broad vitality or dynamism, often of a group or organization, while 英気 usually refers to an individual's restored personal energy.

Don't confuse with

英えい知ち sense 1
英気 and 英知 share the kanji 英 and a similar sound, but 英気 means vigor or spirit while 英知 means wisdom or intellect.

Built from

英えい+気き

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound written with 英, associated with excellence or outstanding quality, and 気, associated with spirit, energy, or disposition. The spelling transparently reflects the recorded meanings, though this is a component explanation rather than a detailed historical derivation.