負(ま)けん気(き)

まけんき

noun

competitive spirit; refusal to lose

1. competitive spirit; fighting spirit; refusal to be beaten

The temperament of someone who hates losing and pushes back rather than giving in. Usually admiring, though it can hint at stubbornness.

負(ま)けん気(き)が強(つよ)い。

She hates to lose.

My younger brother has always been a child who couldn't stand losing.

Thanks to summoning up her competitive spirit and keeping at her training, she was chosen for the national team in the end.

From 負(ま)ける (to lose) with the old negative ん: literally "the spirit of not losing."

向(む)こう気(き): pluck, combativeness — readiness to take someone on, with less of the hatred of losing
根性(こんじょう): guts, perseverance — about enduring hardship rather than beating a rival
意地(いじ)っ張(ぱ)り: stubbornness — the same refusal to yield, but plainly negative

Related Words

general

Added 2026.8.28 21:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

30500/30763_makenki