Adventures in Asian Art



No Fear Wall Scroll

"No Fear" Chinese & Japanese Calligraphy Wall Scroll

You can customize and buy a special "No Fear" wall scroll here.
Start by clicking a button next to your favorite title below...

Quick links to words on this page...

  1. No Fear
  2. Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries
  3. Fear No Man / Fear Nothing
  4. Bravery / Courage
  5. Advance Bravely / Indomitable Spirit
  6. Confidence
  7. The Confident Helmsman...
  8. Never Give Up
  9. Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks
10. One who is drenched in rain,...

No Fear

(two characters)

wú wèi
mui
무외
無
畏

This literally means "No Fear". But perhaps not the most natural Chinese phrase (see our other "No Fear" phrase for a more complete thought). However, this two-character version of "No Fear" seems to be a very popular way to translate this into Chinese, when we checked Chinese Google.

Note: This also means "No Fear" in Japanese and Korean, but this character pair is not often used in Japan or Korea (used somewhat by Korean Buddhists to mean fearlessness).

In recent years, this term is starting to appear in various Chinese and Japanese dictionaries with definitions like "without fear", intrepidity, fearless, dauntless, and bold.

See Also...  Never Give Up | No Worries | Undaunted | Bravery | Courage | Fear No Man

No Fear

(four-character version)

yǒng zhě wú wèi
용자무외
勇
者
無
畏

This is a complete sentence that means literally "Brave People Have No Fear" or "A Brave Person Has No Fear" (plural or singular is not implied). We translated "No Fear" into the two variations that you will find on our website. Then we checked Chinese Google and found that others had translated "No Fear" in the exact same ways. Pick the one you like best. A great gift for your fearless friend.

See Also...  Fear No Man

Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries

yǒu bèi wú huàn
유비무환
有
備
無
患

This really means, "When you are well-prepared, you have nothing to fear". Noting that the third character means "no" or "without" and modifies the last... The last character can mean misfortune, troubles, worries, or fears. It could even be stretched to mean sickness. Therefore you can translate this phrase a few ways. I've also seen it translated as "Preparedness forestalls calamities".

This is comparable to the English phrase, "Better safe than sorry", but does not directly/literally mean this.

Fear No Man / Fear Nothing

wú suǒ wèi jù
무소외구
無
所
畏
懼

This literally means "fear nothing", but it's the closest thing in Chinese to the phrase "fear no man" which many of you have requested. This would also be the way to say "fear nobody" and can also be translated simply as "undaunted".

Bravery / Courage

Courage in the face of Fear

yǒng gǎn
yuu kan
용감
勇
敢

This word is about courage is bravery in the face of fear. You do the right thing even when it is hard or scary. When you are courageous, you don't give up. You try new things. You admit mistakes. This kind of courage is the willingness to take action in the face of danger and peril.

These characters can also be translated as: braveness, valor, heroic, fearless, boldness, prowess, gallantry, audacity, daring, dauntless and/or courage in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. This version of bravery/courage can be an adjective or a noun. The first character means bravery and courage by itself. The second character means "daring" by itself. The second character just emphasizes the meaning of the first, but adds an idea that you are not afraid of taking a dare, and you are not afraid of danger.

This is about brave behavior versus the mental state of being brave. You'd more likely use this to say, "He fought courageously in the battle", rather than "He is very courageous".

See Also...  Warrior

Bravery / Courage

Single Character for Courage

yǒng
isamu / yu-
勇

This character can be translated as bravery, courage, valor, or fearless in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. This is the simplest form to express courage or bravery, as there is also a two character form which starts with this same character.

This character can also be translated as brave, daring, fearless, plucky or heroic.

This is also a virtue of the Samurai Warrior
See our page with just Code of the Samurai / Bushido here

See Also...  Bravery | Courage

Bravery / Courage

Courageous Energy

yǒng qì
yuuki
용기
勇
氣

There are several ways to express bravery and courage in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. This version is the most spiritual. This is the essence of bravery from deep within your being. This is the mental state of being brave versus actual brave behavior. You'd more likely use this to say, "He is very courageous", rather than "He fought courageously in the battle".

The first character also means bravery or courage when it's seen alone. With the second character added, an element of energy or spirit is added. The second character is the same "chi" or "qi" energy that Kung Fu masters focus when they strike. For this reason, you could say this means "spirit of courage" or "brave spirit".

This is certainly a stronger word than just the first character alone.

Beyond bravery or courage, dictionaries also translate this word as valour, valor, nerve, audacity, daring, pluck, plucky, gallantry, guts, gutsy and boldness.

Japanese 気While the version shown to the left is commonly used in Chinese and Korean Hanja (and ancient Japanese Kanji), please note that the second character is written with slightly fewer strokes in modern Japanese. If you want the modern Japanese version, please click on the character to the right. Both styles would be understood by native Chinese, Japanese, and many (but not all) Korean people. You should choose character based on the intended audience for your calligraphy artwork. Or pick the single-character form of bravery/courage which is universal.

See Also...  Warrior

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Advance Bravely / Indomitable Spirit

yǒng wàng zhí qián
勇
往
直
前

This phrase creates an image of a warrior bravely advancing against an enemy regardless of the odds.

This phrase can also be translated as "indomitable spirit" or "march fearlessly onward".

See Also...  Indomitable | Fortitude

Confidence

xìn xīn
shinjin
신심
信
心

Confidence is having faith in someone. Self-confidence is trusting that you have what it takes, to handle whatever happens. You feel sure of yourself and enjoy trying new things, without letting doubts or fears hold you back. When you have confidence in others, you rely on them.

The first character means faith, and the second can mean heart or soul. So you could say this means "faithful heart" or "faithful soul". In Korean especially, this word has a religious connotation.

In Japanese, this word can mean "faith", "belief" or "devotion".

See Also...  Self-Confidence

The Confident Helmsman
Inspires Confidence in the Passengers

bǎ tuò de bù huāng chéng chuán de wěn dang
乘
船
的
穩
當
把
舵
的
不
慌

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

This literally translates as: [If the] helmsman is not nervous, the passengers [will feel] secure.

Figuratively, this means: If the leader appears confident, his/her followers will gain confidence also.

This is a great suggestion that a confident leader inspires confidence in his/her troops or followers. Of course, a nervous leader will create fear in troops or followers.

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Never Give Up

yǒng bù fàng qì
영불방기
永
不
放
棄

The first character means "eternal" or "forever", the second means "not" (together they mean "never"). The last two characters mean "give up" or "abandon". Altogether, you can translate this phrase as "never give up" or "never abandon".

Depending on how you want to read this, it is also a statement that you will never abandon your hopes, dreams, family or friends.

See Also...  Undaunted | Hope

Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks

Persistence to overcome all challenges

bǎi zhé bù náo
hyaku setsu su tou
백절불요
百
折
不
撓

This phrase means "Be undaunted in the face of repeated setbacks". It's of Chinese origin, but is commonly used in Japanese, and somewhat in Korean (same characters, different pronunciation).

This phrase comes from a long, and occasionally tragic story of a man that lived sometime around 25-220 AD. His name was Qiao Xuan and he never stooped to flattery, but remained an upright person at all times. He fought to expose corruption of higher-level government officials at great risk to himself.

Then when he was at a higher level in the Imperial Court, bandits were regularly capturing hostages and demanding ransoms. But when his own son was captured, he was so focused on his duty to the Emperor and common good that he sent a platoon of soldiers to raid the bandits' hideout, and stop them once and for all even at the risk of his own son's life. While all of the bandits were arrested in the raid, they killed Qiao Xuan's son at first sight of the raiding soldiers.

Near the end of his career a new Emperor came to power, and Qiao Xuan reported to him that one of his ministers was bullying the people and extorting money from them. The new Emperor refused to listen to Qiao Xuan and even promoted the corrupt Minister. Qiao Xuan was so disgusted that in protest he resigned his post as minister (something almost never done) and left for his home village.

His tombstone reads "Bai Zhe Bu Nao" which is now a phrase used in Chinese culture to describe a person of strong will who puts up stubborn resistance against great odds.

My Chinese-English dictionary defines these 4 characters as, "keep on fighting in spite of all setbacks", "be undaunted by repeated setbacks" and "be indomitable".

Our translator says it can mean, "never give up" in modern Chinese.

Although the first two characters are translated correctly as "repeated setbacks", the literal meaning is "100 setbacks" or "a rope that breaks 100 times". The last two characters can mean "do not yield" or "do not give up".
Most Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people will not take this absolutely literal meaning, but will instead understand it as the title suggests above. If you want a single big word definition, it would be indefatigability or indomitableness.

See Also...  Tenacity | Fortitude | Strength | Perseverance

One who is drenched in rain,
does not fear drops of dew

bèi yǔ lín guò de rén bù pà lù shuǐ
人
不
怕
露
水
被
雨
淋
過
的

Characters shown
above are read
vertically, starting
from the right

This literally translates as:
One who has been drenched by the rain is not afraid of dew drops.

Figuratively, this means:
One who has gone through hardships is not afraid of (minor)setbacks.

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You should look at these ready-to-ship pieces of artwork:

No Fear - Chinese / Korean Calligraphy Wall Scroll

No Fear
Chinese / Korean Calligraphy Wall Scroll

This literally means "No Fear" in Chinese, and is also occasionally used in Japanese and Korean.


Compare: $65.00

Your Price: $39.88


More Info

A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

The scroll that I am holding in this picture is a "medium size"
4-character wall scroll.
As you can see, it is a great size to hang on your wall.
(We also offer custom wall scrolls in larger sizes)

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.

There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form of art alive.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.


A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.



See: Our list of specifically Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls. And, check out Our list of specifically old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.

The following table is only helpful for those studying Chinese (or Japanese), and perhaps helps search engines to find this page when someone enters Romanized Chinese or Japanese

Title
Characters 
Simplified
Traditional
Japanese Romaji
(Romanized Japanese)
Various forms of Romanized Chinese
No Fear无畏
無畏
muiwú wèi
wu wei
wu2 wei4
wuwei
No Fear勇者无畏
勇者無畏
n/ayǒng zhě wú wèi
yong zhe wu wei
yung che wu wei
yong3 zhe3 wu2 wei4
yongzhewuwei
Preparation Yields No Fear or Worries有备无患
有備無患
n/ayǒu bèi wú huàn
you bei wu huan
yu pei wu huan
you3 bei4 wu2 huan4
youbeiwuhuan
Fear No Man / Fear Nothing无所畏惧
無所畏懼
n/awú suǒ wèi jù
wu suo wei ju
wu so wei chü
wu2 suo3 wei4 ju4
wusuoweiju
Bravery / Courage勇敢
勇敢
yuu kan
yuukan
yu kan
yǒng gǎn
yong gan
yung kan
yong3 gan3
yonggan
Bravery / Courage
isamu / yu-
isamu/yu-
yǒng
yong
yung
yong3
yong
Bravery / Courage勇气 / 勇気
勇氣
yuuki
yuki
yǒng qì
yong qi
yung ch`i
yong3 qi4
yongqi
yungchi
yung chi
Advance Bravely / Indomitable Spirit勇往直前
勇往直前
n/ayǒng wàng zhí qián
yong wang zhi qian
yung wang chih ch`ien
yong3 wang4 zhi2 qian2
yongwangzhiqian
yungwangchihchien
yung wang chih chien
Confidence信心
信心
shinjinxìn xīn
xin xin
hsin hsin
xin4 xin1
xinxin
The Confident Helmsman
Inspires Confidence in the Passengers
把舵的不慌乘船的稳当
把舵的不慌乘船的穩當
n/abǎ tuò de bù huāng chéng chuán de wěn dang
ba tuo de bu huang cheng chuan de wen dang
pa t`o te pu huang ch`eng ch`uan te wen tang
ba3 tuo4 de bu4 huang1 cheng2 chuan2 de wen3 dang
pa to te pu huang cheng chuan te wen tang
Never Give Up永不放弃
永不放棄
n/ayǒng bù fàng qì
yong bu fang qi
yung pu fang ch`i
yong3 bu4 fang4 qi4
yongbufangqi
yungpufangchi
yung pu fang chi
Undaunted After Repeated Setbacks百折不挠
百折不撓
hyaku setsu su tou
hyakusetsusutou
hyaku setsu su to
bǎi zhé bù náo
bai zhe bu nao
pai che pu nao
bai3 zhe2 bu4 nao2
baizhebunao
One who is drenched in rain, does not fear drops of dew被雨淋过的人不怕露水
被雨淋過的人不怕露水
n/abèi yǔ lín guò de rén bù pà lù shuǐ
bei yu lin guo de ren bu pa lu shui
pei yü lin kuo te jen pu p`a lu shui
bei4 yu3 lin2 guo4 de ren2 bu4 pa4 lu4 shui3
pei yü lin kuo te jen pu pa lu shui

If you have not set up your computer to display Chinese, the characters in this table probably look like empty boxes or random text garbage.
This is why I spent hundreds of hours making images so that you could view the characters in the "no fear" listings above.
If you want your Windows computer to be able to display Chinese characters you can either head to your Regional and Language options in your Win XP control panel, select the [Languages] tab and click on [Install files for East Asian Languages]. This task will ask for your Win XP CD to complete in most cases. If you don't have your Windows XP CD, or are running Windows 98, you can also download/run the simplified Chinese font package installer from Microsoft which works independently with Win 98, ME, 2000, and XP. It's a 2.5MB download, so if you are on dial up, start the download and go make a sandwich.

Some people may refer to this entry as Kanji, Characters, in Mandarin Chinese, Characters, in Chinese Writing, in Japanese Writing, in Asian Writing, Ideograms, Chinese symbols, Hieroglyphics, Glyphs, in Chinese Letters, Hanzi, in Japanese Kanji, Pictograms, in the Chinese Written-Language, or in the Japanese Written-Language.

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