kaiju

See also: kaijū

English

Etymology

From Japanese 怪獣 (かいじゅう, kaijū), from Middle Chinese 怪 (kwɛ̀j, “strange, fantastic”) +‎ 獸 (ʃùw, “beast”) (compare Mandarin 怪兽 (guàishòu)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkai.d͡ʒu/

Noun

kaiju (plural 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, p. 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.

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Japanese

Romanization

kaiju

1. Rōmaji transcription of かいじゅ

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Latvian

Noun

kaiju f

1. (deprecated template usage) accusative singular form of kaija
2. (deprecated template usage) instrumental singular form of kaija
3. (deprecated template usage) genitive plural form of kaija