山賊(さんぞく)

さんぞく
noun
bandit, mountain brigand
person
1. bandit, mountain brigand, highwayman
A robber or outlaw who operates in mountainous areas, attacking travelers and villages. Used both historically and in fiction.
山賊(さんぞく)に襲(おそ)われる。
Be attacked by bandits.
昔(むかし)、この峠(とうげ)には山賊(さんぞく)が出没(しゅつぼつ)したという。
They say that bandits used to appear at this mountain pass long ago.
物語(ものがたり)の主人公(しゅじんこう)は山賊(さんぞく)の頭領(とうりょう)で、富(とみ)を奪(うば)っては貧(まず)しい人々(ひとびと)に分(わ)け与(あた)えた。
The protagonist of the story was a bandit chief who stole riches and distributed them to the poor.

Usage

Appears frequently in historical fiction, folk tales, and fantasy settings. The counterpart on the sea is 海賊(かいぞく) (pirate).

Common collocations

  • 山賊(さんぞく)の頭領(とうりょう): bandit chief
  • 山賊(さんぞく)に襲(おそ)われる: to be attacked by bandits
  • 山賊(さんぞく)焼(や)き: "mountain bandit" grilled chicken (a rustic grilled dish)

Cultural note

山賊(さんぞく)焼(や)き is a popular dish in parts of 長野(ながの) and other regions — large pieces of chicken marinated in garlic soy sauce and deep-fried or grilled. The name evokes the rough, hearty eating style of mountain bandits.

Related Words

Compare: 海賊(かいぞく) (pirate (sea))
general
Added 2026.2.21 20:57 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
12500/12529_sanzoku