banzai

[ bahn-zahy, bahn-; Japanese bahn-dzah-ee ]
/ bɑnˈzaɪ, ˈbɑn-; Japanese ˈbɑnˈdzɑ i /

interjection

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

adjective

leading to likely or inevitable death; suicidal: a banzai attack by Japanese troops in the last days of World War II.

Origin of banzai

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)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH banzai

banzai bonsai

Example sentences from the Web for banzai

British Dictionary definitions for banzai

banzai
/ (ˈbɑːnzaɪ, bɑːnˈzaɪ) /

interjection

a patriotic cheer, battle cry, or salutation

Word Origin for banzai

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