How to say "scout" in Japanese

• 斥候せっこう
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe military 'scout': a soldier or patrol sent ahead to observe the enemy; it can also mean 'spy'. A less common word, at home in military and historical writing.
• 斥候隊せっこうたい
  nounThe group sense: 隊 'unit, party' makes this a scouting detachment — the team an army sends ahead, not a lone scout. A less common, strictly military word.
• 斥候兵せっこうへい
  nounEssentially 'scout soldier': the individual soldier sent out to reconnoiter. A less common word; for a lone scout, 斥候 alone usually serves.
• 物見ものみCommon
  nounThe common word of this set, covering the lookout side of 'scout': watching, keeping a lookout or watch, also a patrol — a sentry scanning for the enemy's movements.

All but 物見 are less common military terms: 斥候 is the general 'scout' (also 'spy'), 斥候隊 the scouting party, 斥候兵 the individual scout soldier, while 物見, the common word, covers lookout and patrol.

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

• 斥候せっこうscout
• 斥候隊せっこうたいreconnoitering party
• 斥候兵せっこうへいreconnoitering party
• スカウト(talent) scout
• スカウトマン(talent) scout
• 物見ものみscout