大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)

A four-character compound (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)) that can be used either admiringly (for courage) or critically (for recklessness or audacity). Context determines whether the speaker views the boldness positively or negatively.

Common collocations

• 大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)な行動(こうどう): bold and fearless action
• 大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)な態度(たいど): a dauntless attitude
• 大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)にも: audaciously (adverbial use)
• 大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)な笑(え)み: a fearless smile

Similar words

• 大胆(だいたん): bold — simpler form without the fearlessness component
• 豪胆(ごうたん): brave, stout-hearted — emphasizes inner courage without the sense of defiance
• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち): brazen and shameless — purely negative, about lacking shame rather than having courage
• 勇敢(ゆうかん): brave, courageous — straightforwardly positive

Etymology

大胆(だいたん) (bold, daring) + 不敵(ふてき) (fearless, defiant). 不敵(ふてき) literally means "without enemy" — so fearless that one acts as if no opponent exists.