Hero in Japanese: “yūsha” or “eiyū”, explained based on their kanji

How to say “hero” in Japanese

Honestly speaking, Japanese people often say “hīro”. It is the imported word which originally came from the pronunciation of “hero”. In this blog post, however, I will focus on the two Japanese words: “yūsha” and “eiyū”. Both can work to mean ‘hero’ in Japanese. I will explain these two in detail based on their kanji expressions. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. Let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “yūsha”
• “Yūsha” in kanji
  • Example #1: how to use “yūsha”
• Definition and meanings of “eiyū”
• “Eiyū” in kanji
  • Example #2: how to use “eiyū”
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “yūsha”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “yūsha”.

• yūsha – 勇者 (ゆうしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘hero’, ‘brave man’, or ‘brave woman’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. Learn more about Japanese plural.

Its definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. To understand this word more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

“Yūsha” in kanji

Below are the kanji characters used in “yūsha”.

• 勇 : a kanji character widely used to mean ‘brave’ in Japanese. This kanji can also be found in other words like “yūki“.
• 者 : a kanji character often used like a suffix to add the meaning of ‘person’, ‘man’, or ‘woman’ to its preceding word.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “yūsha” literally means ‘brave man’ or ‘brave woman’. So, what its kanji characters express is completely in line with its meanings.

When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about meanings of words they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “yūsha” through the detailed kanji check above.

Then, let me explain how to use “yūsha” through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to use “yūsha”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, it is used before “otoko” to say “this man” in Japanese. The role of this determiner is very similar to that of “this” in English.
• otoko – 男 (おとこ) : a noun meaning ‘man’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun meaning ‘men’.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, it is used after the noun phrase, “kono otoko”, to make the subject in the sentence.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, it is used after “yūsha” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “yūsha”. When we want to say “hero” or “heroes” in Japanese, this word is a good option.

Definition and meanings of “eiyū”

Next, then, let me explain the definition and meanings of “eiyū”.

• eiyū – 英雄 (えいゆう) : a noun meaning ‘hero’, ‘brave man’, or ‘brave woman’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun.

Its definition and meanings are basically the same as those of “yūsha”. To understand this word more clearly, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.

“Eiyū” in kanji

Below are the kanji characters used in “eiyū”.

• 英 : a kanji character sometimes used as a prefix to add the meaning of ‘outstanding’ or ‘prominent’.
• 雄 : a kanji character used to mean ‘excellence’ or ‘prominence’.

From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “eiyū” literally means ‘outstanding excellence’. This kanji concept is a bit too gorgeous, but still close to the meanings, I think.

Then, let me explain how to use “eiyū” through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to use “eiyū”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its plural form, “kanojo tachi”, which means ‘they’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, it is used after “kanojo tachi” to make the subject word in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “eiyū”. In the example, it works as a plural noun meaning ‘heroes’. When we want to say “hero” or “heroes” in Japanese, this word is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the two words, “yūsha” and “eiyū”, in detail based on their kanji expressions. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• yūsha – 勇者 (ゆうしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘hero’, ‘brave man’, or ‘brave woman’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘brave man’ or ‘brave woman’. So, what its kanji characters express is completely in line with its meanings.
• eiyū – 英雄 (えいゆう) : a noun meaning ‘hero’, ‘brave man’, or ‘brave woman’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. These two kanji characters literally mean ‘outstanding excellence’. This kanji concept is a bit too gorgeous, but still close to the meanings, I think.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.