Four-Character Idiom · Conviction & Will · Kyojuro Rengoku
奮励努力
Meaning
To stir up one's own spirit and apply oneself with single-minded effort. The first two kanji name the inner action of self-rousing; the last two, the outer work.
気力を奮い起こして、ひたむきに努め励むこと。残された者への力強いエール。
The Kyojuro Rengoku moment
Among his last words, an encouragement aimed at the people who will outlive him.
Why it fits Kyojuro Rengoku
A dying man's exhortation to "live on, even when it is lonely" is funrei-doryoku translated into farewell. The classical idiom is usually directed at oneself; Rengoku turns it outward, gifting it to the people who will need it after he is gone.
Sources
- Weblio — 奮励努力 (dictionary)