万歳

See also: 萬歲 and 万岁

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
万	歳
ばん Grade: 2	せい > ぜい Grade: S
kan’on

Alternative spelling
萬歲 (kyūjitai)

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “see Wiktionary:Requests for cleanup#万歳”)

From Middle Chinese 萬歲 (MC mʉɐn^H siuᴇi^H). The kan'on, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
• IPA^(key): [bã̠nd͡ze̞ː]

Noun

万(ばん)歳(ぜい) • (banzei)  (kyūjitai 萬歲)

1. an extremely long period of time
2. long life and glory
3. death

Interjection

万(ばん)歳(ぜい) • (banzei) 

1. an expression of celebration

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
万	歳
ばん Grade: 2	さい > ざい Grade: S
kan’on	goon

Alternative spelling
萬歲 (kyūjitai)

Shift in reading, keeping the older goon reading for the second character and adopting the relatively newer kan'on reading for the first character.

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
• (Tokyo) ばんざ​い [bàńzáꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [bã̠nd͡za̠i]

Noun

万(ばん)歳(ざい) • (banzai)  (kyūjitai 萬歲)

1. an extremely long period of time
   • 1936, “第五章　母音と父音 [Chapter 5: Vowels and Consonants]”, in 誰にも分かる獨習英語の學び方 [Self-Taught English for Everyone], 英語研究会, page 30:

     大(だい)日(にっ)本(ぽん)帝(てい)國(こく)萬(ばん)歲(ざい)！

     Dai Nippon Teikoku banzai!

     Long live the Japanese Empire!

2. (raising one's hands three times in cheer) raising ones hands
3. (raising one's hands in defeat) business troubles, bankruptcy

Interjection

万(ばん)歳(ざい) • (banzai) 

1. an expression of celebration

Synonyms

• (specialized) マンセー (mansē), ウラー (urā)

Descendants

• → English: banzai
• → Indonesian: banzai

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
万	歳
まん Grade: 2	さい > ざい Grade: S
goon

Alternative spelling
萬歲 (kyūjitai)

From Middle Chinese 萬歲 (MC mʉɐn^H siuᴇi^H). The goon, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
• (Tokyo) まんざ​い [màńzáꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [mã̠nd͡za̠i]

Noun

万(まん)歳(ざい) • (manzai)  (kyūjitai 萬歲)

1. an extremely long period of time
2. (historical) alternative form of 萬歳 (“Edo manzai (a traditional New Year performance)”)
3. a song and dance to celebrate a new year
4. a song sung to celebrate a new year

Interjection

万(まん)歳(ざい) • (manzai) 

1. an expression of celebration