Kiai
/ˈkiː.aɪ/noun
A forceful shout used in Japanese martial arts to focus energy, breath, and intention.
Did you know?In Japanese tradition, kiai is not merely volume: it expresses concentrated ki, or vital energy, at the decisive moment of an action.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
氣 (qì)
“Breath, air, vital force, or life energy”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
氣 (khjì)
“Vital breath or animating energy”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
気 (ki)
“Spirit, mood, attention, or vital energy, borrowed from Chinese”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
合 (ai)
“Meeting, joining, matching, or harmonizing”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
気合い (kiai)
“The joining or concentrating of spirit; martial focus expressed through a shout”
Modern English
English
kiai
“A forceful martial-arts cry used to focus exertion and intention”