Japanese meaning of 千軍万馬
Reading:
せんぐんばんば (sengun banba)
English Translation:
Experienced veteran; one who has seen countless battles
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
An expression describing someone with vast battle experience, literally “a thousand armies and ten thousand horses.”
Cultural Context:
Used both literally for seasoned warriors and figuratively for highly experienced professionals.
「千の軍勢と万の馬」という意味で、多くの戦いを経験してきたこと。
熟練の戦士だけでなく、豊富な経験を持つ専門家を比喩的に表す際にも使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “の経験” or “の兵” to describe a person seasoned by many battles (“千軍万馬の兵”).
• Used figuratively for extensive experience in various fields.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be interpreted as simply “experienced,” but it implies resilience and capability proven in numerous trials.
Example
Basic Example
彼は千軍万馬の経験を持つベテランだ。
He is a veteran with the experience of countless battles.
Applied Example
千軍万馬の経験者が、静かに将棋盤の前に座った。
A battle-hardened veteran quietly sat in front of the shogi board.