lecturer; orator; public speaker
General term for a person who gives speeches or lectures, often in a formal or persuasive context.
彼は優れた弁士として知られている。
He is known as an excellent orator.
silent film narrator; benshi
Historical term for a performer who provided live narration and commentary for silent films in Japan. See also 活弁.
See also: 活弁
昔の映画館には弁士がいた。
In old movie theaters, there was a benshi (silent film narrator).
More specifically a political or public speaker; 弁士 is broader and can include lecturers.
female silent film narrator
Standard modern spelling.
Old kanji form; rarely used today.
From 弁 (speech, eloquence) + 士 (person of a certain qualification). The silent film narrator sense arose in early 20th-century Japan.