武士|ぶしbushi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounsamurai; warrior
   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.

• Synonym侍さむらいNeutralA samurai, especially a daimyo's retainer in the Edo period; also figuratively a person with strong backbone. 「武士」 is the broader term for the whole class.
• Synonym武家ぶけWrittenA written term for a samurai family or the samurai class, as in 「武家屋敷」; 「武士」 refers to a person's individual status.
• Synonym武者むしゃNeutralA warrior or brave fighter, with the emphasis on combat; 「武士」 stresses social status and class.
• Related士しNeutralThe same word as above, also written 「士」; in modern use it appears in 「サムライジャパン」 and similar phrases metaphorically for Japan's national teams.

Use 「武士」 for the historical samurai class, as in 「武士道」. 「侍」 also means samurai and figuratively a person of strong backbone; samurai families take 「武家」, brave warriors 「武者」.

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

1. むかし、武芸ぶげいをおさめ、軍事ぐんじに携たずさわり、主君しゅくんに仕つかえた身分みぶんの者もの。中世ちゅうせい、近世きんせいの日本にっぽんにおいては支配階級しはいかいきゅうとなった。さむらい、もののふ。