intj
banzai
bahn-ZEYE
intj
1
A Japanese cheer or war cry, roughly meaning "long live," shouted to express enthusiasm, celebrate a victory, or (historically) launch an attack.
"The crowd shouted "Banzai!" as the emperor's motorcade passed."
adj
1
Informally, reckless or wildly thrill-seeking.
"He took a banzai run straight down the black diamond slope without checking conditions."
How to Use Banzai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Japanese cheer of celebration or defiance — like shouting "hooray!" — historically also used as a battle cry.
Word Forms
more banzai comparative, banzaied past tense, banzais singular, most banzai superlative
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Etymology
From Japanese 万歳 (banzai), literally "ten thousand years [of life]," borrowed centuries earlier from Chinese — originally a wish for the emperor's long life, later a general cheer of triumph.