意气风发
yì qì fēng fā
high-spirited; full of drive and confidence
Character by character
意yì
spirit
spirit
气qì
mettle
mettle
风fēng
wind
wind
发fā
rising
rising
Example
刚毕业的年轻人意气风发，觉得什么都难不倒自己。
Fresh graduates are full of drive and feel nothing can defeat them.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Of people at the start of a career or venture, or a team on the up: 意气风发的青年. Often paired with 斗志昂扬 (high morale) in speeches. With hindsight it can set up a fall, as in this lesson.
Learn this in Lesson 199 · HSK 7–9: 1913年的国会 (The parliament of 1913)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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