King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “willpower”

Romaji: kiryoku
willpower; energy; vitality

In Japanese, willpower is , read (kiryoku).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

  1. n willpower; energy; vitality

Kanji and stroke order

spirit, mind, air
on: キ、ケ
kun: いき、き
6 strokes · JLPT 4
power, strength, strong
on: リョク、リキ、リイ
kun: ちから
2 strokes · JLPT 3

Other Japanese words for “willpower”

WordReadingMeaning
こんじょう konjouwillpower; guts; determination
いじ ijistubbornness; obstinacy; willpower
たましい tamashiiwillpower; vitality
はら haracourage; nerve; willpower
ねんりき nenrikiwillpower; faith

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
きもち kimochifeeling; sensation; mood
にんき ninkipopularity; public favor
きぶん kibunfeeling; mood
げんき genkilively; full of spirit; energetic
でんき denkielectricity
ふんいき fun'ikiatmosphere; mood; ambience
きょうりょく kyouryokucooperation; collaboration; help
のうりょく nouryokuability; faculty

See also: Chinese symbol for “willpower”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.