勇 Courage in Chinese (yǒng)

Dictionary Summary

勇 (yǒng) means brave. Simplified form has 9 strokes under radical 力.

Pinyin & Toneyǒng (Tone 3)

Simplified / Trad.勇 / 勇

Radical力

Total Strokes9 strokes

StructureTop–Bottom (甬 + 力)

Unicode / LevelU+52C7 · HSK 4

Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review

🪪 Using “勇” in a Chinese Name · Use with Caution (Masculine-leaning)

Wait before choosing 勇 as a personal Chinese name: single-character names like 勇 or 伟 were extremely common in the 1960s–1980s and now feel dated to younger Chinese speakers. Prefer 毅 (resolute) or 轩 for a modern feel.

✒️ Using “勇” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase

Carries clear heroic intent, though 勇气 (courage) or 勇毅 (brave and resolute) looks more idiomatic than a single 勇.

Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings

Origin & Visual Logic: Combines a gushing/surging phonetic element (甬) over strength/muscle (力)—depicting bold energy surging into action.

Traditional / Simplified	Pinyin	CC-CEDICT Definitions
勇 / 勇	yǒng	brave

Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).

Common Words & Idioms Using “勇”

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning
勇敢	yǒnggǎn	brave and courageous
勇气	yǒngqì	courage and nerve
英勇	yīngyǒng	heroic and valiant

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does the Chinese character "勇" (yǒng) have?

"勇" has 9 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 力, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.

Is "勇" good to use in a real Chinese name?

Rating: Use with Caution (Masculine-leaning). Wait before choosing 勇 as a personal Chinese name: single-character names like 勇 or 伟 were extremely common in the 1960s–1980s and now feel dated to younger Chinese speakers. Prefer 毅 (resolute) or 轩 for a modern feel.