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hibakusha

atomic bomb survivor

noun ee-bah-KOO-shah Rare
People & Society Community

Origin: Japanese hibakusha, from hibaku (exposed to explosion) + sha (person)

Usage Note

Hibakusha is a Japanese loanword used in Italian — and internationally — to refer specifically to the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. It is invariable in Italian (no plural inflection) and is always used with awareness of its historical gravity. The gender assigned in Italian usage is typically masculine by default but context may vary.

Examples

"I hibakusha hanno testimoniato gli orrori della bomba atomica."

Natural Translation

The hibakusha testified to the horrors of the atomic bomb.

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