Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 に 度ど 胸きょう がある someone has guts/nerve
He has the nerve to speak confidently even to a president he's just met.
〈 人ひと 〉 に 度ど 胸きょう がない someone lacks nerve
I'm afraid of heights and don't have the nerve to ride roller coasters.
度ど 胸きょう で 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to do something purely on nerve/guts
I wasn't well prepared, but I pulled through on sheer nerve.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 度ど 胸きょう を 試ため す to test someone's nerve
The haunted-house dare was a good chance to test our nerve.
Expressions 度ど 胸きょう を 据す える muster one's courage; resolve oneself; steel oneself Kanji 度 degrees, occurrence, time Related words· 7 勇気 is general courage or moral bravery, while 度胸 specifically highlights the nerve to stay calm and act boldly in a risky or scary situation.
肝っ玉 is a colloquial, earthy word for guts or toughness of character, whereas 度胸 is the more neutral, widely used term for nerve.
根性 emphasizes gritty perseverance and willpower over time, while 度胸 is about boldness in a single tense moment.
心臓 (in phrases like 心臓が強い ) and 度胸 both convey nerve or boldness, but 度胸 is a standalone noun for courage while 心臓 needs a set phrase to carry that meaning.
Show 3 more Show fewer 度胸 emphasizes bold nerve in facing danger, while 肝 can refer more broadly to inner fortitude or courage.
度胸 emphasizes fearlessness or nerve in a risky or scary situation, while ガッツ is broader and refers to general fighting spirit or determination.
度胸 emphasizes fearlessness or nerve in the moment, while 気概 is a more sustained, principled spirit of determination.
Word family foolhardy courage; reckless bravery
boldness; daring; guts
test of courage; putting one's courage to the test
on-stage composure; stage presence; nerves on stage
Written forms 度ど 胸きょう Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news word.
どきょう Usage 1%
Etymology Compound of 度 (degree, measure) and 胸 (chest, heart). The combination suggests the measure of one's heart or spirit, i.e., one's capacity for boldness.
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