Japanese Word for

武士

bushi

warrior · samurai · fighter

Readings

  • 武 ONブ・ムbu / mu
  • 士 ONshi
  • さむらいsamurai
  • 武者むしゃmusha

Meaning

Warrior, samurai, fighter. 武士 (bushi) is the classical term for a warrior of the samurai class. 侍 (samurai) is the more familiar international term. 武者 (musha) means an armed warrior in battle gear.

samurai

samurai, warrior

武者

musha

warrior, armed soldier

武士道

bushidō

the way of the warrior, bushido

剣士

kenshi

swordsman, fencer

戦士

senshi

warrior, soldier, fighter

勇者

yūsha

hero, brave warrior

武士道 (bushidō — the way of the warrior) codified the samurai code of ethics: rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. The concept was formalized in Nitobe Inazō's 1900 book Bushido: The Soul of Japan, which introduced these values to the Western world.

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