気 合(きあ)い

きあい

noun

fighting spirit; enthusiasm

1. fighting spirit; vigor; enthusiasm; psyching oneself up

A surge of mental energy, willpower, or determination. Originally from martial arts, where it refers to the focused energy expressed through a shout (kiai) before or during a strike. Now widely used in everyday speech to mean putting one's heart and energy into something.

気合(きあ)いを入(い)れろ！

Get fired up! / Get your head in the game!

今日(きょう)は気合(きあ)いが入(はい)っているね。

You're really fired up today, aren't you?

気合(きあ)いだけでは乗(の)り越(こ)えられない壁(かべ)もあるが、まずは気持(きも)ちが大事(だいじ)だ。

There are obstacles that can't be overcome with willpower alone, but mindset matters first.

Usage

Originally a martial arts term for the focused shout accompanying a strike, 気合(きあ)い has become a widely used everyday word meaning mental energy and determination. The key phrase 気合(きあ)いを入(い)れる means "to psych oneself up" or "to put one's energy into it," while 気合(きあ)いが入(はい)る describes the state of being fired up.

Common collocations

気合(きあ)いを入(い)れる: to psych oneself up, to get serious
気合(きあ)いが入(はい)る: to be fired up, to be in the zone
気合(きあ)いが足(た)りない: to lack enthusiasm
気合(きあ)いで乗(の)り切(き)る: to power through with willpower
気合(きあ)い十分(じゅうぶん): fully fired up

general

Added 2026.2.24 16:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

13000/13254_kiai