How to say "samurai" in Japanese

• 武士ぶしJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe broad term for a samurai or warrior, whether an individual fighter or the warrior class as a whole; a common rendering of 'samurai' when no more specific nuance is intended.
  武士ぶしは食くわねど高楊枝たかようじ。↗

  A samurai, even when he has not eaten, uses a toothpick like a lord.
• 侍さむらいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA historical term for a warrior, especially one of the military retainers who served a daimyo in the Edo period; the source of the English word 'samurai', the natural choice when writing about that era.
  『うぐいす侍さむらい』人間にんげん愛あいとユーモア溢あふれる侍さむらい物語ものがたり。↗

  "The Nightingale Samurai" is a samurai tale full of humanity and humour.
• 武家ぶけCommon
  nounRefers to a samurai house or family, or the warrior class collectively, rather than an individual warrior; as a rendering of 'samurai' it is marginal unless the household or class is meant.

武士 is the broad term for a samurai or warrior, 侍 the historical term for an Edo-period daimyo's military retainer, and 武家 refers to the samurai as a house, family, or class rather than an individual.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 武士ぶしsamurai
• 侍さむらいwarrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the Edo period)
• 武士もののふwarrior
• 士人しじんsamurai
• 古強者ふるつわものfeudal warrior
• 武夫ぶふwarrior
• 武家ぶけsamurai
• 士しsamurai