What’s a ‘Shinobi’ Anyway?

Ninja fans will already know the answer to this one, but for those not already in the know:

The word “ninja” comes from a Japanese word which is written using Kanji, or characters, borrowed from the Chinese. The Chinese pronunciation of the characters is “nin sha”  – or “ninja” in the Western derivation.

The Chinese pronunciation is sometimes also used in Japan, but the native Japanese pronunciation of the characters is “shinobi.”

TL;DR: A Shinobi is a Ninja.

The different pronunciations enable me to offer the entertaining explanation that shinobi is “the Japanese word for ninja.” (Think about it for a minute. You’ll get the joke.)

Did you know that Shinobi and Ninja meant the same thing? Do you have a favorite foreign word or unique translation you enjoy? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!