Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃)
心を燃やせ
Kokoro wo moyase.
“Set your heart ablaze.”
— Kyojuro Rengoku
Answer both practice questions correctly to complete this line.
Not yetThe scene
The Flame Hashira Rengoku's parting encouragement to Tanjiro in Mugen Train: grit your teeth, keep moving forward, and set your heart ablaze. It is the emotional peak of one of the biggest anime films of all time, and the line most fans carry with them.
Word by word
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 心 | kokoro | heart, mind, spirit — broader than the physical organ 心臓 |
| を | wo | object particle |
| 燃やす | moyasu | to burn, to set alight |
Grammar notes
The plain imperative: 〜え
燃やせ is the imperative of 燃やす: verbs in the -su group turn す into せ. Compare Erwin's 捧げよ in the Attack on Titan line — different verb class, different imperative, same commanding energy.
心 vs 心臓
Japanese has two 'hearts': 心臓 (shinzō) is the physical organ, while 心 (kokoro) is the heart as in feelings, resolve, and spirit. Rengoku is talking about the second one — which is why the line is about courage, not cardiology.
Can you say this in real life?
燃やせ is a bare imperative — a direct order. Japanese imperatives this plain are for battlefields, coaches, and burning buildings; giving one to a coworker would be shocking. To encourage a friend in real life, you would soften it: 心を燃やして頑張ろう ('let's give it our all').
Practice
Q1. What does 「心を燃やせ」 urge?
Q2. Which 'heart' means feelings and resolve, not the organ?
Read & Watch Demon Slayer
The best way to enjoy this line in the wild is to meet it in the original work. Official places to read and watch Demon Slayer will be listed here.
Manga
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Streaming
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DVD & Blu-ray
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