Samurai in Japanese
"samurai" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
侍
samurai
2 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "samurai". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
侍 is the samurai, and the character means to serve — a samurai is one who serves a lord. 士 is the broader word for a man of standing, and it is the 士 of 武士 (bushi, warrior) and of 力士 (sumo wrestler). 武士 is the older and more accurate term; samurai came to English through a narrower door.
Top pick
samurai, serve, attend upon
Reading: ji
8 strokes · powerful, wisdom
Where it comes from
Composed of person and temple. One who serves a lord at temple.
What it carries
Samurai, loyalty, honor. Represents Japanese bushido spirit and devotion.
Related kanji for "samurai"
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for samurai?
The most common kanji for "samurai" is 侍, read as ji. It means samurai, serve, attend upon. Related kanji: 士 (samurai).
How many strokes does 侍 have?
侍 has 8 strokes.