- 1. [adj-na, n] admirable; commendable; praiseworthy; laudable; brave; heroic; noble; courageous
Conjugation — Adjective (―na)
This word itself does not change -- these are forms of the copula だ ("to be") attached to it.
| Attributive (before a noun) | けなげな | (kenagena) |
| Non-past, plain | けなげだ | (kenageda) |
| Non-past, polite | けなげです | (kenagedesu) |
| Past, plain | けなげだった | (kenagedatta) |
| Past, polite | けなげでした | (kenagedeshita) |
| Negative, plain | けなげじゃない | (kenagejanai) |
| Negative, polite | けなげじゃないです | (kenagejanaidesu) |
| Past negative, plain | けなげじゃなかった | (kenagejanakatta) |
| Past negative, polite | けなげじゃなかったです | (kenagejanakattadesu) |
| Te-form | けなげで | (kenagede) |
| Conditional (―nara) | けなげなら | (kenagenara) |
Kanji in this word
-
健
healthy, health, strength, persistenceOn: ケン (ken)Kun: すこ.やか (suko.yaka)
-
気
spirit, mind, air, atmosphere, moodOn: キ (ki)、 ケ (ke)Kun: いき (iki)、 き (ki)
Example Sentences
彼が直向きに生きるその姿は実に健気です。
The single-minded way he gets on with his life is truly admirable.