The Meaning of eiyū [英雄] In Japanese

英雄
えいゆう
Romaji: eiyū N3

What does 英雄 mean?

Translation and Meaning

hero, great person

Definition

英雄 means a person admired for courage and notable achievement; a heroic figure recognized for both character and deeds, whether in real life or in fiction.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Real-world figures celebrated for courage or notable accomplishments
  • Fictional or legendary protagonists regarded as heroic within stories
  • A metaphorical label for someone exceptionally skilled or influential in a field

Etymology

On'yomi combination of ei from 英 and yū from 雄; formed as a Sino-Japanese compound, yielding the pronunciation eiyū.

Origin

Borrowed into Japanese with kanji from Chinese sources; the concept of a heroic figure appears in classical Japanese writing and became common in later periods.

Composition

  • 英: excellence, brilliance; on'yomi ei
  • 雄: masculine, heroic; on'yomi yū

Usage

Used in formal, scholarly, and literary contexts to refer to a hero or heroic figure; in modern language it also appears in media discussions and biographies; employed for both real persons and fictional protagonists.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture two kanji—英 for excellence on the left and 雄 for a strong man on the right—together they form eiyū, the word for a remarkable, courageous person.

Variations

  • 勇者 (yūsha) – hero, brave person
  • 豪傑 (gōketsu) – remarkable, valiant figure
  • 偉人 (ijin) – great person, eminent figure

Example Phrases

  • 学校で英雄のような友達に偶然会った。
    Gakkō de eiyū no yō na tomodachi ni guuzen atta.
    I happened to meet a hero-like friend at school.
    Lista:
    • 学校で (gakkō de) – at school
    • 英雄 (eiyū) – hero
    • の (no) – of
    • ような (yō na) – like
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friend
    • に (ni) – to
    • 偶然 (guuzen) – by chance
    • 会った (atta) – met
    「英雄のような」 means ‘hero-like’; 「英雄」 means hero, and 「のような」 attaches to a noun to show resemblance.
英雄