kaiju

See also: kaijū

English

Etymology

From Japanese 怪獣 (かいじゅう, kaijū), from Middle Chinese 怪 (kˠuɛi^H, “strange, fantastic”) +‎ 獸 (ɕɨu^H, “beast”) (compare Mandarin 怪獸／怪兽 (guàishòu)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkai.d͡ʒu/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

kaiju (plural kaijus or kaiju)

1. A giant monster, particularly of the kind found in Japanese science fiction films, like Godzilla or Gamera.
   • 2015, Steve Aylett, Heart of the Original, Unbound, page 117:

     The resurrections of Mothra, the giant butterfly in Japanese kaiju movies, are treated as colourful religious events, glitter falling upon fat children as the fluffy-faced behemoth dries its wings.

Japanese

Romanization

kaiju

1. Rōmaji transcription of かいじゅ

Latvian

Noun

kaiju f

1. inflection of kaija:
   1. accusative/instrumental singular
   2. genitive plural