Japanese word

分身

Pronunciation

Romajibunshin

Meaning

  • nounalter ego

Example

彼は私の分身です。kare wa watashi no bun shin de su

He is my alter ego.

Illustration for 分身 (alter ego)

More examples

このキャラクターは、危険な場面で自分の分身を生み出します。ko no kya ra ku tā wa ki ken na ba men de ji bun no bun shin o u mi da shi ma su

This character creates a double of himself in dangerous situations.

Core concept

Describes a person seen as an extension of another person's identity, character, or role.

Common phrases

  • 分身を作るbun shin o tsuku ru

    make a double

  • 分身を生み出すbun shin o u mi da su

    create an alter ego

Definition in Japanese

ある人と同じ性質や役割を備え、もう一人の自分とみなされる存在。a ru hito to ona ji sei shitsu ya yaku wari o sona e mō hito ri no ji bun to mi na sa re ru son zai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 分身 (bunshin) combines 分 (bun, "divide") with 身 (shin, "body or self"), expressing the idea of one self appearing as a separate body.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese term 分身 (bunshin) can describe a fictional or symbolic counterpart, not only a physically identical double, which explains its use for an alter ego.

Other meanings

  • doublenoun

Related words

  • 分身するbunshinsuruduplicate oneselfverb

Word lists with this word