banzai

[ bahn-zahy, bahn-; Japanese 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

“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.

From 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.

From New York Times

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

From Washington Times

The daily “banzai runs” in Yuma, Ariz., that used to send hundreds of young men dashing across the scarcely marked border to overwhelm a few dozen U.S. agents were already a thing of the past.

From Washington Post

The island’s name became synonymous with the suicidal “banzai” charges that Japanese troops repeatedly threw against the Marines and Army soldiers fighting for the island.

From Washington Times