banzais
|ban-zais|
/bænˈzaɪz/
(banzai)
a shout meaning 'long life' or 'hooray'
Etymology
'banzai' originates from Japanese, specifically the word '万歳' (banzai), where '万' meant '10,000' and '歳' meant 'years'.
'banzai' was used in Japanese as a celebratory cry expressing a wish for long life ('ten thousand years'); the term was borrowed into English through contact with Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the 20th century English also adopted the compound 'banzai charge' to describe Japanese mass suicidal assaults during World War II.
Initially it meant a wish for long life ('ten thousand years'); over time it became an exclamation of triumph or celebration in both Japanese and English, and in English it additionally came to refer to reckless/suicidal military charges.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'banzai': shouts or cries of 'banzai' used as cheers of triumph or celebration (i.e., repeated instances of the exclamation).
The crowd's banzais filled the square after the announcement.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
plural of 'banzai' in the sense of 'banzai charge': reckless, often suicidal mass assaults (historically referring to Japanese WWII infantry charges).
Several banzais were reported during that campaign, leading to heavy casualties.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 04:58