変わり身

Japanese

Kanji in this term
変	身

Etymology

Compound of 変わり (kawari, “substitute”) +‎ 身 (mi, “body”).

Noun

変わり身 (hiragana かわりみ, romaji kawarimi)

1. (sumo) a quick shift of position
2. flexibility in adapting one's words and deeds to changing circumstances
3. A ancient ninja art revolving around misdirection and the split-second timing of a switch between a 'body' and a location, or between two or more bodies: A technique utilized by ninja in ancient Japan, involving the ninja and anything that can be mistaken for them, (such as a dummy or a mannequin.)

Derived terms

• 変わり身の術 (kawarimi-no-jutsu)

See also

• 変身 (へんしん, henshin)
• 分身 (ぶんしん, bunshin)