banzai

[bahn-zahy, bahn-, bahn-dzah-ee]

interjection

1. (used as a Japanese patriotic cry or joyous shout.)

2. (used as a Japanese battle cry.)

adjective

1. leading to likely or inevitable death; suicidal.

   a banzai attack by Japanese troops in the last days of World War II.

banzai

/ ˈbɑːnzaɪ, bɑːnˈzaɪ /

interjection

1. a patriotic cheer, battle cry, or salutation

Word History and Origins

Origin of banzai¹

1890–95; < Japanese, equivalent to ban ten thousand + -zai, combining form of sai years of age (< Middle Chinese, akin to Chinese wàn-suì, Korean manse )

Word History and Origins

Origin of banzai¹

Japanese: literally, (may you live for) ten thousand years

Example Sentences

Fans shouted, “Chargers, Chargers, banzai! Banzai!” or “Cardinals, attack the ball!” according to UPI.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Last September, hundreds of people gathered at a court in Shizuoka, a city on Japan's south coast, where a judge handed down the acquittal - to loud cheers of "banzai", or "hurray" in Japanese.

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“On this May Day, we unite with our fellow workers around the world standing up for their rights,” she said, shouting “banzai!” or long life, to all workers.

Read more on Seattle Times

The Japanese fired mortars and large artillery ahead of banzai charges by fearless soldiers willing to run into the Americans’ Browning machine guns.

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“We decided it must be a banzai attack,” Gibbs recalled.

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