Introducing the coolest Japanese phrases, as chosen by the Japanese people themselves.
Get them tattooed, adopt them as your motto, or show them off to everyone!
- 信義(shingi)
- 不屈(fukutsu)
- 覚悟(kakugo)
- 闘志(toshi)
- 飛翔(hisho)
- 黎明(reimei)
- 仁愛(jinai)
- 風雅(fuga)
- 幽玄(yugen)
- 久遠(kuon)
不屈(fukutsu)
■The Meaning of “不屈(fukutsu)”
In short, it means an unyielding heart. No matter how difficult things get, never giving up.
不: Negation
屈: To bend (to yield or break)
“Not bending” = Having a strong spirit, holding firm to one’s convictions, never losing fighting spirit.
It’s a word packed full of that kind of positivity!
■The Origin of “不屈(fukutsu)”
“不屈(fukutsu)” originates from the ancient Chinese story and Han texts, specifically the phrase “不撓不屈(futofukutsu)” .
不撓(futo): Like a tree that does not bend in strong winds, the spirit remains unbroken.
不屈(fukutsu): No matter how much pressure is applied, one does not yield.
Together, they formed a phrase signifying overcoming hardship and never giving up.
Over time, the core meaning of “not yielding” became independent, and “fukutsu” alone came to be widely used as a word representing strong mental fortitude.
