核心畫面

One plane flying straight at a ship, with no plan for coming back. The pilot's own death is not a risk he is running; it is part of how the attack works. Hold that single detail — the ending is decided before take-off — and everything else the word does becomes readable: the attack, the machine, the person, and the borrowed use for anyone who acts as if their own safety is not part of the plan.

可以想成一架飛機直直朝一艘船撞過去,而且沒有回程的打算。飛行員的死不是他冒的風險,是這個攻擊運作的方式。只要抓住這一更多收起可以想成一架飛機直直朝一艘船撞過去,而且沒有回程的打算。飛行員的死不是他冒的風險,是這個攻擊運作的方式。只要抓住這一個細節——結局在起飛前就定了——其他用法就都讀得懂了:攻擊本身、那台機器、那個人,還有借過來形容任何「做事時沒把自己的安全算進去」的人。

From the word’s history

Borrowed from Japanese 神風, kami (divine) + kaze (wind), first used of the typhoon that destroyed the Mongol fleet attacking Japan in 1281.

這個字借自日文 神風:kami 是「神的」,kaze 是「風」。來源說它原本指的是 1281 年摧毀來襲蒙古艦隊的那場颱風。一陣救國的風,後來被拿來命名二戰的攻擊,這個字才進入英文。

Wiktionary etymology supplied in packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:577972790)

Two branches

戰爭裡的那次攻擊

這一族就是畫面本身,只是鏡頭對準不同的東西:人、攻擊、機器,或是動作。

adjective · C1

A kamikaze pilot was a Japanese pilot in the Second World War who deliberately flew his plane into an enemy ship or camp, knowing that he would not come back alive.

神風特攻隊飛行員

借來形容不顧自己的安危

把畫面裡「沒把自己算進去」那一點抽出來,貼到日常生活上;沒有人真的會死,誇張的是那份不顧自己。

adjective · C1

Taking very big risks with your own safety, in a way that looks as if you do not care what happens to you.

不要命的、玩命的