Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 大胆な | daitan na |
| 勇敢な | yūkan na |
Japanese uses different words for bold depending on whether you are describing audacity or heroism. 大胆な describes a person or action that is daring, audacious or even reckless. 勇敢な is used to describe someone who shows bravery or courage, often in the face of physical or moral danger.
Which one should you use?
大胆な carries a nuance of being audacious or potentially reckless, such as a bold idea or a bold translation. In contrast, 勇敢な focuses on heroic bravery, making it more suitable for describing someone like a soldier or a person facing a life-threatening situation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the adjective 大胆な into an adverb meaning 'boldly', replace the final な with に to get 大胆に. To turn the adjective into a noun meaning 'boldness', replace the final な with さ to get 大胆さ.
How do you pronounce it?
daitan na
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'bold' can describe a typeface, Japanese uses the term 太字 (futoji), which literally means 'fat characters'.
- If you describe someone as having a 'big gallbladder' in Japanese, you are praising their boldness, rather than implying they have a large organ.
- While 大胆な can be a compliment, it is frequently used as a polite euphemism to describe someone who is being rude or overstepping social boundaries.
Examples in context
- これまた、大胆な発想ですね。What another bold idea.This sentence shows how to describe a bold idea using 大胆な.Tatoeba #10529837 by small_snow, translation #11361332 by pip
- 大胆な発想を持った人が必要なんだよ。We need somebody with bold new ideas.This sentence uses 大胆な to describe someone with bold ideas.Tatoeba #10697373 by bunbuku, translation #263147 by CK
- トムがね、褒めてたよ、あなたのこと。「英語と日本語の微妙な感覚が天才的に優れているのでかなり大胆な訳をしてくる」って。私もそう思う。Tom praised you earlier, saying that "You are able to make bold translations thanks to an exceptional sense of the nuances in both English and Japanese". I think so too.This sentence demonstrates the use of 大胆な in the context of making bold translations.Tatoeba #8933632 by small_snow, translation #10238105 by tsp_2
- 彼は勇気ある人ですHe is a bold person.
- 彼女の勇気ある行動には感銘を受けましたI was impressed by her bold actions.
- 君の勇気に感心するよI admire your boldness.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hime and Kenta are discussing a new fashion choice.
- 陽葵 Himariその赤いドレス、すごく大胆な色だね。Sono akai doresu, sugoku daitan na iro da ne.That red dress is a very bold color.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう。たまには挑戦したかったんだ。Arigatou. Tama ni wa chousen shitakatta nda.Thanks. I wanted to try something different for a change.
- 陽葵 Himari健太に似合ってるよ。大胆な格好でかっこいい。Kenta ni niatteru yo. Daitan na kakkou de kakkoii.It suits you, Kenta. You look cool in such a bold outfit.
- 健太 Kentaそう言ってもらえると自信が出るよ。Sou itte moraeru to jishin ga deru yo.Hearing you say that gives me confidence.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bold” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
