風ふう雲うん児じ

ふ

う

ん

じ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

adventurer in turbulent times; soldier of fortune; one who seizes the moment

Refers to a bold, often heroic figure who emerges during periods of upheaval or change, taking advantage of the chaos to achieve greatness. Carries a romantic, dramatic tone.

彼かれは戦せん国ごく時じ代だいの風ふう雲うん児

じ

と

し

て

歴れき

史し

に

名な

を

残のこ

し

た

。

He left his name in history as a daring adventurer of the Warring States period.

政せい界かいの風ふう雲うん児じと呼よばれたその男おとこは、混こん乱らんに乗じょうじて一いっ気きに頂ちょう点てんへ駆かけ上あがった。

The man, called a political soldier of fortune, rode the chaos straight to the top.

Kanji

風wind, air, style
雲cloud
児newborn babe, child, young of animals

Related words

冒ぼう険けん家か
冒険家 is a neutral 'adventurer/explorer', while 風雲児 specifically implies thriving in chaotic or revolutionary circumstances.
英えい雄ゆう
英雄 is a general 'hero', whereas 風雲児 emphasizes seizing opportunity in turbulent times, often with a hint of opportunism.

Built from

風ふう雲うん+児じ

Etymology

Compound of 風雲 (fūun, 'wind and clouds', metaphor for turbulent times) and 児 (ji, 'child/person'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged in modern Japanese to describe larger-than-life figures in history and politics.