貴様

Japanese

Kanji in this term
貴	様
き Grade: 6	さま Grade: 3
on’yomi	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
貴樣 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 貴 (ki-, honorific prefix) +‎ 様 (sama, honorific suffix).[1]

First cited to a Japanese-Portuguese dictionary of the early 1600s, and likely extant some time earlier.[1]

Originally used as a term of honor and respect in the correspondence of samurai households, used to refer to social superiors. Later became a more colloquial term, and by the late Edo period, it was used to refer to social equals or even inferiors. Now in modern usage, this is used almost exclusively by males in a pejorative context.[1][2][3][4][5]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) きさま [kìsámá] (Heiban – [0])[4][5][6]
IPA^(key): [kʲi̥sa̠ma̠]

Pronoun

貴(き)様(さま) • (kisama)

(vulgar, derogatory, men's speech) you, you SOB, you bastard
喧(けん)嘩(か)売(う)ってんのか貴(き)様(さま)は？
Kenka utten no ka kisama wa?
Are you trying to pick a fight, bastard?

Usage notes

This is a rude form of you in Japanese. It is also used between enemies, and usually only by Japanese males.

References

“貴様”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000, →ISBN
“貴様”, in デジタル大辞泉 (Dejitaru Daijisen)‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
1998, 広辞苑 (Kōjien), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN
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
1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN

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

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

[K-3] 1998, 広辞苑 (Kōjien), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN

[DJR-4] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[SMK5-5] 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-6] 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN