JLPT Level: UnlistedThis is one of the coolest words I have found to date. Look at those meanings!!

JLPT Level: Unlisted

This is one of the coolest words I have found to date. Look at those meanings!! To boast, to roar, to recite a poem to oneself. It’s so rich and nuanced! And then look at how dang cool the kanji looks!! Also, let’s not forget that the pronunciation, “usobuku” sounds like 嘘吹く (uso fuku, to tell lies like the wind blows), which is not a real expression but is immediately what my mind goes to. 

Okay, let’s take a look at this kanji!

嘯

• On-yomi: shou, shitsu
• Kun-yomi: usobu.ku
• Meaning: roar, howl, recite emotionally, feign indifference

It appears that long ago, this kanji used to be used for whistling. But not just any whistling–this is for the whistling people did to imitate bird calls. 

Nowadays, this word is very seldom used, and it is never used in reference to bird calls. But it’s really cool!