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.
気合いを入れろ！
Get fired up! / Get your head in the game!
今日は気合いが入っているね。
You're really fired up today, aren't you?
気合いだけでは乗り越えられない壁もあるが、まずは気持ちが大事だ。
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, 気合い has become a widely used everyday word meaning mental energy and determination. The key phrase 気合いを入れる means "to psych oneself up" or "to put one's energy into it," while 気合いが入る describes the state of being fired up.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 気合いを入れる: to psych oneself up, to get serious
- 気合いが入る: to be fired up, to be in the zone
- 気合いが足りない: to lack enthusiasm
- 気合いで乗り切る: to power through with willpower
- 気合い十分: fully fired up