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剣士 (けんし, kenshi) Japanese meaning: swordsman | Kotomora
じ 字 Furigana
Kanji 士 gentleman, scholar, samurai Related words 剣豪 emphasizes a legendary or exceptionally skilled swordsman, while 剣士 is the neutral, general term for anyone who practices swordsmanship.
剣客 is a slightly literary, old-fashioned word for a swordsman similar to 剣士 but with a more dramatic, wandering-warrior nuance.
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He is a famous swordsman.
The fencer showed a brilliant technique.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 剣けん 士し になる for someone to become a swordsman
After harsh training, he became a swordsman.
剣けん 士し として 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to do something in one's capacity as a swordsman
As a swordsman, she won many tournaments.
〈 人ひと 〉 剣けん 士し と 戦たたか う to fight against a swordsman
The protagonist fought the strongest swordsman.
侍 refers to the historical samurai social class, whereas 剣士 focuses on skill with a sword regardless of social status.
Don't confuse with 剣道 is the martial art or sport of swordsmanship itself, while 剣士 is the person who practices it.
兵士 means a soldier in general, while 剣士 specifically denotes someone skilled with a sword rather than any armed fighter.
Written forms 剣けん 士し Usage 97%
Standard kanji spelling; the only written form.
けんし Usage 3%
Etymology Compound of 剣 (ken, 'sword') and 士 (shi, 'person of skill or profession'), literally 'sword person'. The reading is on'yomi.