神風
kamikaze[ka̠mʲika̠ze̞]
The English phrase "divine wind" is translated into Japanese as 神風 (kamikaze).
神風 refers to a strong wind believed to be sent by a deity to protect a country from invaders.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 神 (kami), meaning 'god' or 'deity' and 風 (kaze), meaning 'wind'.
How do you pronounce it?
kamikaze
When do people say it?
The term historically refers to the typhoons that destroyed Mongol invasion fleets in the 13th century.
Did you know?
- While the concept feels uniquely Japanese, the written characters used for 神風 were actually borrowed from Middle Chinese.
- The phrase 神風 was used by the Japanese Empire during World War II to name the suicide pilots who flew planes into enemy ships.
- The word 神風 can describe a sudden and lucky turn of events in modern conversation, even if no wind or deity is involved.
Examples in context
- 神風が敵を退けたという伝説がある。Kamikaze ga teki o shirizoketa to iu densetsu ga aru.There is a legend that a divine wind drove away the enemy.
- 歴史の授業で神風について学んだ。Rekishi no jugyo de kamikaze ni tsuite mananda.I learned about the divine wind in history class.
- 神風は国を守るものと考えられていた。Kamikaze wa kuni o mamoru mono to kangaerarete ita.The divine wind was believed to be something that protects the country.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a history textbook in a library.
- 結衣 Yuiこの本には神風について書いてあるよ。Kono hon ni wa kamikaze ni tsuite kaite aru yo.This book writes about the divine wind.
- 蓮 Renそれは歴史的にとても重要な出来事だね。Sore wa rekishiteki ni totemo juyo na dekigoto dane.That is a very important event historically.
- 結衣 Yui蓮君は、神風の伝説を知っている？Ren-kun wa, kamikaze no densetsu o shitte iru?Ren, do you know the legend of the divine wind?
- 蓮 Renうん、よく知っているよ。Un, yoku shitte iru yo.Yes, I know it well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 神風, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 神風, CC BY-SA 4.0.
