Japanese word

克服

Pronunciation

Romajikokufuku

Meaning

  • nounovercoming

Example

彼は恐怖の克服に成功しました。kare wa kyō fu no koku fuku ni sei kō shi ma shi ta

He succeeded in overcoming his fear.

Illustration for 克服 (overcoming)

More examples

練習は人前で話す不安の克服に役立ちます。ren shū wa hito mae de hana su fu an no koku fuku ni yaku da chi ma su

Practice helps overcome anxiety about speaking in public.

Core concept

Expresses the process of facing an obstacle or inner weakness and gaining control over it.

Common phrases

  • 恐怖の克服kyō fu no koku fuku

    overcoming fear

  • 障害の克服shō gai no koku fuku

    overcoming an obstacle

  • 課題の克服ka dai no koku fuku

    overcoming a challenge

Similar words

克己kokki: The practice of controlling one's own desires or weaknesses.
打破daha: The act of breaking through a barrier or limiting condition.

Definition in Japanese

恐怖や弱点などに立ち向かい、それを乗り越えること。kyō fu ya jaku ten na do ni ta chi mu ka i so re o no ri ko e ru ko to

Word origin

克服 (kokufuku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 克 (koku, "overcome") and 服 (fuku, "submit"), so its parts suggest bringing a resisting problem under control.

Usage tips

  • 克服 (kokufuku) commonly appears with abstract objects such as 恐怖 (kyōfu, "fear") and 困難 (konnan, "difficulty"), rather than with ordinary physical objects.

Opposites

  • 屈服kuppukusurrendernoun

Related words

  • 克服するkokufukusuruovercomeverb

Word lists with this word