侍（さむらい、samurai）
- samurai

The word 侍, pronounced さむらい (samurai), refers to the military nobility and officer caste of pre-industrial Japan. They were the ruling warrior class that emerged in the late 12th century and dominated Japanese society until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. 侍 were skilled warriors, primarily known for their swordsmanship, and served feudal lords (daimyo). Beyond their martial roles, 侍 also held administrative and social responsibilities within their domains. The code of conduct of the 侍, known as Bushido ("the way of the warrior"), emphasized honor, loyalty, self-discipline, and courage.

⚫︎ あの侍は勇敢だった。 Translation: That 侍 was brave. ⚫︎ 侍たちは主君のために戦った。 Translation: The 侍 fought for their lord. ⚫︎ 昔、たくさんの侍がいました。 Translation: In the past, there were many 侍.

This word is used to refer to the historical warrior class in Japan. It’s appropriate when discussing historical events, literature, movies, or any context related to the feudal era of Japan. It is not typically used to describe modern-day occupations or people, except perhaps figuratively to describe someone with a strong sense of duty or skill in a particular area. The word 侍 is often used when speaking formally, but can be used in casual conversation as well.

⚫︎The word is primarily written using the kanji 侍. ⚫︎The hiragana reading is さむらい. ⚫︎There is no variation in the okurigana (suffix hiragana).

⚫︎ 武士 (ぶし, bushi): This is a more general term for warrior or samurai. It is often used interchangeably with 侍, though 侍 is more specific to the historical class. ⚫︎ 剣士 (けんし, kenshi): Swordsman (though can refer to other types of swordsmen) ⚫︎ 浪人 (ろうにん, rounin): A masterless 侍.

There aren't direct antonyms, as 侍 refers to a specific social class. However, words that represent people from different social classes during the feudal era could be considered in a contrastive sense, such as: ⚫︎ 農民 (のうみん, noumin): peasant ⚫︎ 町人 (ちょうにん, chounin): townspeople/merchants

その有名な侍は、とても忠誠心が強かった。 ・Translation: That famous 侍 was very loyal. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the 侍's loyalty, a key characteristic of the warrior class.

映画で、たくさんの侍が戦っているのを見た。 ・Translation: I saw many 侍 fighting in the movie. ・Explanation: This sentence is using 侍 in the context of a movie featuring 侍, illustrating a common usage.

The etymology of 侍 comes from the verb さむらう (samurau), which means "to serve" or "to attend." Originally, 侍 were servants and bodyguards of the nobility. Over time, their military roles and power grew, eventually leading to their dominance of Japanese society. The kanji 侍 literally means "to wait upon" or "to attend," further reflecting the word's origins.