山賊
sanzoku
The Japanese word for bandit is 山賊 (sanzoku), which is the default form.
山賊 refers to an outlaw and specifically evokes the image of bandits living in the mountains or wilderness. It is a term often found in historical or folklore contexts.
Meaning: an outlaw (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 山, meaning mountain and 賊, meaning bandit or thief.
How do you pronounce it?
sanzoku
Did you know?
- During the Edo period, some 山賊 were actually displaced samurai who lost their status and turned to banditry to survive.
- In modern Japanese, the term 山賊 is often used metaphorically to describe a person or a company that acts in an extremely greedy or pushy manner, much like a 'bully' in business.
- The character 賊 in 山賊 is also used in the word 国賊 (kokuzoku), which means 'traitor to the country', elevating the concept of a bandit to a political crime.
Examples in context
- 山賊が現れた。Sanzoku ga arawareta.A bandit appeared.
- その山賊は恐ろしい。Sono sanzoku wa osoroshii.That bandit is terrifying.
- 昔、山賊が村を襲った。Mukashi, sanzoku ga mura o osotta.Long ago, bandits attacked the village.
Example conversation
Two children are reading a fantasy book together.
- 陽太 Yotaあそこに山賊がいるよ！Asoko ni sanzoku ga iru yo!There are bandits over there!
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ、とても怖そう。Hontou da, totemo kowasou.You're right, they look very scary.
- 陽太 Yota主人公はどうやって勝つの？Shujinkou wa dou yatte katsu no?How does the protagonist win?
- 陽葵 Himari続きを読んでみよう。Tsuzuki o yonde miyou.Let's read the rest and find out.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 山賊, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
