Kirin are one of a number of [[youkai]] species. They possess a humanoid upper half from the waist up and a [[dragon|draconic]] lower half, with their entire body covered in thick scales, which are resistant enough to be considered bullet-resistant.
There is no known transliteration translation for the word ''kirin''. Dictionaries will explain that the kanji used to write the word, '''麒''' and '''麟''', both have the same self-referential meaning: "Kirin" (individually, they can also mean "Bright", "Genius", "Shining" or, curiously, "Giraffe", but only in other contexts). According to youkai legends and folklore, kirin are descended from a dragon god that was named Ki-Rin or Qi-Lin, after which the entire species was named.
The humanoid half of a kirin is covered in scales called "skin scales", with less defined outlines and colors resembling human skin tones, ranging from tanned to olive. From a distance, the outline of these scales are more difficult to distinguish and appear human-like, but are visible under closer observation. Despite a soft and slim appearance, this is merely an optical illusion; they are just as resistant as on their draconic half.