Proverb / Kotowaza
人生意気に感ず
People are moved to act by the sincerity and passion of others.
In life, people are moved by spirit.
Quick Answer
People are moved to act by the sincerity and passion of others.
- Literal Image
- In life, people are moved by spirit.
- Closest Equivalent
- We are moved by the sincerity and spirit of others.
- How to Use It
- Used to explain that someone was motivated to work hard, offer help, or take a specific action because they were deeply touched by another person's earnestness or passionate request.
Meaning
Human beings are deeply affected by the true feelings, chivalry, and earnest spirit of those they interact with. When someone shows genuine sincerity or passion, others are inspired to support them and take action. This highlights that emotional connections and heartfelt dedication drive human behavior more powerfully than practical calculations or personal gain.
Literal Image
In life, people are moved by spirit.
Equivalent Proverbs
We are moved by the sincerity and spirit of others.
A direct translation provided in the source that matches the meaning perfectly.
How to Use It
Used to explain that someone was motivated to work hard, offer help, or take a specific action because they were deeply touched by another person's earnestness or passionate request.
Tone
Earnest and respectful, reflecting admiration, a sense of duty, or strong camaraderie.
Examples
先輩の熱意ある口説き文句に心が動いた。人生意気に感ず、こういう人のためなら頑張れると思った。
My heart was moved by my senior's passionate persuasion. As they say, people are moved by the spirit of others; I felt I could do my best for someone like this.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary is straightforward, but it features the classical verb ending 'kanzu' (to feel) and requires understanding 'iki' as a spirited disposition rather than literally 'breath'.
人生
じんせい / jinsei
human life, people
意気
いき / iki
spirit, disposition, passion, resolve
感ず
かんず / kanzu
to be moved, to feel (classical form of 感じる)
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Do not interpret 'jinsei' purely as an individual's lifespan here; in this context, it refers to 'people' or 'human nature in life'.
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Origin
This expression originates from a line in the poem "Shukkai" (述懐) by the Tang dynasty Chinese poet Wei Zheng: 「人生意気に感ず、功名誰かまた論ぜん」. It is a verse that praises human chivalry, conveying that people are driven to act by the sincerity and spirit of others rather than by the pursuit of fame and merit.
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