負まけじ魂だましい

ま

け

じ

だ

ま

し

い

Meanings

noun

unyielding spirit; indomitable spirit

A somewhat literary term for a strong-willed, never-give-up attitude. Often used in contexts of perseverance, competition, or personal resolve.

彼かれの負まけじ魂だましいが、最さい後ごの逆ぎゃく転てんを生うんだ。
His indomitable spirit brought about the final comeback.
負まけじ魂だましいを燃もやして、難むずかしい試し験けんに挑いどんだ。
Burning with an unyielding spirit, I took on the difficult exam.

Kanji

負defeat, negative, -
魂soul, spirit

Related words

闘とう志し
闘志 is a more common word for fighting spirit, often used in sports or competition. 負けじ魂 has a slightly more literary or old-fashioned nuance, emphasizing refusal to lose.
不ふ屈くつ
不屈 means 'indomitable' or 'unyielding' and is often used in compounds like 不屈の精神. 負けじ魂 is a noun phrase that carries a similar meaning but with a more personal, emotional connotation.

Built from

負まける+魂たましい

Written forms

負まけじ魂だましい
Standard kanji spelling. The じ is a classical negative volitional auxiliary, giving a literary feel.
まけじ魂だましい
Kana spelling of the first part, sometimes seen in modern writing.

Etymology

Compound of 負けじ (makeji, 'not losing', from classical negative volitional auxiliary じ) and 魂 (tamashii, 'spirit'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase has been used in literary and motivational contexts.