Menu

shogun

/ˈʃoʊ.ɡʌn/ Japanese Origin History

Original Word

将軍

Kanji (shōgun)

Entered English

17th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "shogun"

From Japanese 'shōgun' (将軍), short for 'seii taishōgun' (great general who subdues barbarians). The hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867.

Example Usage

"The novel 'Shogun' introduced many Westerners to Japanese history."

All Japanese Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

More Japanese Loanwords