意気地

backbone, mettle

i kʲ i ʑ i

noun Rare #35,354

backbone, mettle Often used in the expression 意気地がない, meaning “spineless” or “having no backbone.”

JA: 彼には意気地がある。

EN: He has backbone.

I just didn't have the nerve.

Explain it yourself. If you don’t speak up, people will think you’re a coward.

— レベッカ (1940)

That's a pretty spineless thing to say, isn't it?

— 東京物語 (1953)

Coward.

— 戦艦ポチョムキン (1925)

They're all a bunch of cowards.

— 七人の侍 (1954)

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