Proverb / Kotowaza
大胆不敵
To possess great courage and show no fear in the face of danger or difficulty.
Bold and fearless
Quick Answer
To possess great courage and show no fear in the face of danger or difficulty.
- Literal Image
- Bold and fearless
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone's attitude, actions, or plans when they are remarkably brave, sometimes to the point of being audacious or reckless.
Meaning
This expression describes a person who is extremely daring and completely unafraid. It combines the concepts of boldness (daitan) and fearlessness (futeki), implying a spirit so strong that one does not even view opponents or obstacles as a threat.
Literal Image
Bold and fearless
How to Use It
Used to describe someone's attitude, actions, or plans when they are remarkably brave, sometimes to the point of being audacious or reckless.
Tone
This term can be used admiringly to praise courage or critically to describe brazen or audacious behavior.
Examples
彼は大胆不敵な作戦で、不利な状況を覆した。
He overturned a disadvantageous situation with a daring and fearless strategy.
犯人は白昼堂々、大胆不敵にも金庫を奪って逃走した。
The culprit brazenly stole the safe in broad daylight and fled.
大胆不敵な笑みを浮かべて、彼は強敵に立ち向かった。
With a fearless smile on his face, he confronted the powerful enemy.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji themselves are relatively standard, but the four-character compound structure and the specific idiomatic nuance of 'fearlessness' make it an upper-intermediate expression.
大胆
だいたん / daitan
bold; daring
不敵
ふてき / futeki
fearless; dauntless
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be aware that it can imply a 'brazen' or 'shameless' lack of fear when used in a negative context, such as describing a crime.
Misread Risk
Do not assume this is only a positive word for bravery; it is also used for 'brazen' or 'audacious' acts that ignore rules or social norms.
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Origin
The term '大胆' (daitan) refers to having a 'large liver' (a metaphor for great courage) and not being timid. '不敵' (futeki) describes a strong heart that does not even consider an enemy as an enemy. Historically, it was used to describe the mindset of samurai and individuals who displayed an absolute absence of fear.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.