忍び

忍び

Japanese

Kanji in this term
忍
しの Grade: S
kun’yomi

Alternative forms

• 忍

Etymology

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of the verb 忍ぶ (shinobu, “to put up with, to bear quietly, to endure; to hide, to conceal oneself; to sneak, to move quietly and secretly”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) しのび [shìnóbí] (Heiban – [0])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ɕino̞bʲi]

Noun

忍び (hiragana しのび, rōmaji shinobi)

1. the act of putting up with, enduring, bearing
2. a secret or private visit or meeting
3. sneaking; hiding
4. stealth
5. Clipping of 忍びの術 (shinobi no jutsu, “stealth technique”). Synonym of 忍術 (“ninjutsu”).
6. Clipping of 忍びの者 (shinobi no mono, “stealthy one”). Synonym of 忍者 (“ninja”).
7. a hidden knife or sword
8. a burglary

Usage notes

The spelling 忍び with the okurigana may be more common for this reading.

Synonyms

Synonyms

• (putting up with): 我慢 (がまん) (gaman)
• (secret meeting): 密会 (みっかい) (mikkai)
• (hidden knife or sword): 忍 (しのび)刀 (がたな) (shinobigatana)
• (burglary): 窃 (せっ)盗 (とう) (settō)

References

1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN