忍びの者

Japanese

Kanji in this term
忍	者
しの Grade: S	もの Grade: 3
kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
忍びの者 (kyūjitai) 忍の者

Etymology

Compound phrase comprised of 忍び (shinobi, “sneaking”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 忍ぶ (shinobu, “to endure, to bear; to hide, to conceal oneself; to sneak into or out of a place”)) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 者 (mono, “person”). Literally a “sneaking person, person of sneaking”.[1][2][3][4]

First cited to a text from 1689.[1]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) しのびのもの [shìnóbí nó mónóꜜ] (Odaka – [6])[3][4]
IPA^(key): [ɕino̞bʲi no̞ mo̞no̞]

Noun

忍(しの)びの者(もの) • (shinobi no mono)

[from 1689] (historical) a person trained in the art of stealth, acting as a spy, saboteur, and/or assassin

Derived terms

忍者(にんじゃ) (ninja)

References

“忍の者”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000, →ISBN
“忍びの者”, in デジタル大辞泉 (Dejitaru Daijisen)‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[KDJ2-1] “忍の者”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000, →ISBN

[DDJS-2] “忍びの者”, in デジタル大辞泉 (Dejitaru Daijisen)‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months

[DJR-3] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[SMK5-4] 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN