banzai
Reckless war shout
Banzai is a Japanese exclamation meaning "ten thousand years"—a cheer wishing long life, used to express enthusiasm or triumph.
In English, it primarily appears in historical contexts as the battle cry of Japanese soldiers in World War II, particularly during desperate charges: The troops mounted a banzai attack.
The word now sometimes appears in contexts of reckless abandon or all-out effort.
Exclamation of joy
- hoorayExclamation of delight
- cheersCasual toast or farewell
- huzzahExclamation of triumph
- yayExclamation of triumph
bravo · viva · yahoo · yippee · ole · encore · hallelujah · whoopee
Male ruler of empire
- samuraiFeudal Japanese military caste
- bushidoSamurai honor system
- JapanEast Asian archipelago nation
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
tradition · culture · ritual · ceremony · custom · honor · loyalty · imperial
Cost or accusation
- attackAggressive act against another
- assaultViolent offensive act
- raidSudden armed incursion
- kamikazeReckless to fatal extremes
warfare · combat · offensive · onslaught · storming · blitz · incursion · foray
Resounding, celebrated victory
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- toastHeated bread; glass-raising honor
- jubilationIntense, expressive happiness
- euphoriaIntense emotional high
elation · glory · success · achievement · festivity · commemoration · honor · tribute
hurrah
Exclamation of joy
yay · bravo · viva · yahoo · yippee · ole · encore · hallelujah · whoopee · rah
emperor
Male ruler of empire
heritage · tradition · culture · ritual · ceremony · custom · honor · loyalty · imperial · shogun
charge
Cost or accusation
kamikaze · warfare · combat · offensive · onslaught · storming · blitz · incursion · foray · skirmish
triumph
Resounding, celebrated victory
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- toastHeated bread; glass-raising honor
- jubilationIntense, expressive happiness
euphoria · elation · glory · success · achievement · festivity · commemoration · honor · tribute · pageantry
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- toastscheers, wedding toast, birthday toast, champagne toast, graduation toast
- Cheershooray, hurrah, hurray, huzzah, yay
- battle criesbattle cry, charge, hooah, oorah, war cry
- JapanTokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Hokkaido
- Imperial JapanEmperor Hirohito, Hirohito, Rising Sun, Meiji, kamikaze
banzairetreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
withdrawal · fall back · flee · surrender · disengage
banzaiself-preservation
Instinct to survive danger
caution · cowardice · capitulation · prudence · discretion
banzaiI give up
Admission of defeat
mercy · defeat · despair · submission · lamentation
- banzai chargeReckless mass infantry assault