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.
His cheerful attitude was nothing more than put-on cheerfulness.
Before the match, the players were shouting with forced courage.
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.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling of the first element is sometimes seen.
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.