banzai
- noun
- /bɑnˈzaɪ/
- Informal
- "Banzai, Bamm-Bamm," D said, raising her cup.
- Banzai attack
- shouted "Banzai"
- Banzai charge
Examples
-
"Viva Hapons! Banzai!" "Now where are the guerillas?" the Japanese pressed.
Fiction book (1990) -
"There was the click of a well-hit ball, a burst of applause, and enthusiastic shouts of "Banzai!" By now Arkady could picture a bar of Marlboro colors and contented golfers.
Fiction book (1992) -
They tell us that we must scream, "Banzai," as we plunge into our target.
-
Banzai!
-
Then out they'd come, screaming and shouting their fanatical banzai war hoops.
-
"On the tees a tier overhead, the Japanese hit a unified salvo, followed by excited shouts of "Banzai!" Borya smiled and pointed his club up.
Fiction book (1992) -
The soldiers shouted banzai as they prepared for the charge.
-
During the festival, people cheered banzai to celebrate the victory.
-
As the team won the championship, their fans erupted into a loud cheer of banzai.
Synonyms
A loud shout people make to show approval or support
A shout people make when they are happy or excited
A loud shout people make to show excitement or joy
A loud old-fashioned word people shout to show joy or approval
A loud shout people make to show excitement
A loud cheer people use to show victory or praise, often in South Asia
A loud shout of joy people make together at events like games
Compounds
A mass attack, especially by Japanese soldiers in World War II, where they rush the enemy while shouting 'banzai'
How Enthusiastic
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Banzai comes from a Japanese phrase that means 'ten thousand years' and was used to wish someone a long life. People began to shout it like a loud 'hurrah', so today banzai is used as a shout of excitement or victory.