Keyword
heaven
Info
FrequencyTop 200-300
Type
Kyōiku (1st grade) 
?
KankenLevel 10
Heisig457
Readings
てん
(94%)
あま
(2%)
あめ
(1%)
Composed of
one
large
Mnemonic

A pictograph of a large man with outstretched arms, and one line above his head which represents the heaven, which is a plane of existence one level higher that the one the man's currently in.

Do not confuse it with , which looks similar and whose first stroke is written in right-to-left and is slightly curved.

Used in kanji (10 in total)
connected to
send something
play music
blossom
Used in vocabulary (1023 in total)
sky; heaven; God; svarga (heaven-like realm visited as a stage of death and rebirth); deva (divine being of Buddhism); top (of a book); sole (of a Japanese sandal)
ceiling; ceiling price; (price) ceiling
genius; prodigy; natural gift
weather; the elements; fair weather; fine weather
paradise; heaven; Kingdom of Heaven
nature; spontaneity; natural airhead
the whole world; the whole country; society; the public; supremacy over a nation; government of a country; having one's own way
heaven and earth; the universe; top and bottom; gods of heaven and earth
sky; air; ether; firmament; the heavens
fine weather; fair weather
top of the head; crown of the head
natural enemy
decorative curtain hung from the ceiling; tent; pavilion; marquee
being amazed; being horrified; being taken aback
canopy; dome; priestly minstrel's reed hood; reed hood worn by Komuso priests
(balance) scales; shoulder carrying pole; steelyard
weather; temper; mood
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
tengu; long-nosed goblin; bragging; conceit; braggart
fine weather (i.e. little or no clouds); fair weather; clear weather; clear sky; fair skies
the Four Heavenly Kings (Dhrtarastra, Virudhaka, Virupaksa, and Vaisravana); the big four (i.e. four leaders in a given field)
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
divine punishment; wrath of God; justice of heaven; suitable punishment; just deserts; come-uppance
weather forecast; weather report
talented; gifted; prodigious; virtuoso; masterful
tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter
Emperor of Japan
open air bath; rotenburo; rotemburo
the whole sky
the heavens; the skies; celestial sphere; heavenly realm; deva realm
heaven and earth; top and bottom
God's will; heaven's decree; mandate of Heaven; one's life; one's lifespan
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
naivete; simplicity; innocence
natural calamity; disaster
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
heavenly body; celestial body; astronomical object
natural disaster; cataclysm
ecstasy; highest heaven
(divine) revelation; divine oracle
top; summit; twelve o'clock (usu. midnight); top of one's head; top of a helmet
vocation; lifework; sacred task (esp. the emperor's rule over the nation); prostitute of the second-highest class (Edo period)
ascension (into heaven); the Ascension; death
cloudy sky; overcast sky; cloudy weather
skylight; head
under blazing sun
inborn; innate; inherent; a priori
emperor; ruler (with a heavenly mandate); heavenly being; celestial being
flying horse; Pegasus
unheard-of; unprecedented
new land; new world; new sphere of activity
fallen angel; Lucifer; demon; Satan
heavenly nymph; celestial maiden; beautiful and kind woman
heaven's punishment; divine punishment; well-deserved punishment; just punishment
heavenly god; heavenly gods; spirit of Sugawara no Michizane; Tenmangu shrine (dedicated to Michizane's spirit); pit of a dried plum; dried plum; tenjin hairstyle
the sun; god of heaven and the earth; laws governing the heavens; celestial path; celestial motion; deva realm (svarga); path in the heavens
countertop; tabletop; baking tray; baking sheet
a person without a single relative
Benten (goddess of arts and wisdom)
demon of the sixth heaven in the realm of desire who tries to prevent people from doing good
mid-air; mid-heaven; zenith
a posteriori; acquired
fine weather; fair weather
Milky Way; luminous band corresponding to the plane of the galaxy
heavenly king; Gozu Tenno (deity said to be the Indian god Gavagriva)
astronomical observation; stargazing
castle tower; keep; donjon
natural span of life; 250 years old
any red algae in the family Gelidiaceae (esp. Gelidium crinale)
very strange; odd; queer
fantastic; bizarre; incredible; unbelievable
innate ability; innate talent; natural gift
astronomical observatory
zenith; vertex
Tenshō era (1573.7.28-1592.12.8)
freezing weather; agar-agar; vegetable gelatin
splendid; praiseworthy; admirable; well done!; bravo!
Skanda (swift-footed guardian deity); great runner
heavenly palace; sky
street vendor; stallholder; stallkeeper
rainy weather
one's nature; talents; destiny; mission; sphere of activity
Shangdi (supreme deity in ancient Chinese religion); God; Shakra (king of heaven in Hindu mythology); Indra
to die; to ascend to heaven
castle tower
to receive divine punishment
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
India; cotton sheeting; foreign; imported; ultra-spicy; extra hot
God and man; heaven and man
His Majesty the Emperor
astounding; startling; world-shaking; amazing; earth-shattering
heavenly voice; off the record instructions; influential person's opinion; powerful person's verdict
tempura donburi; tempura served over a bowl of rice; (in comedy) repeating the same gag or silly line
(person) seeming like a genius; (having) the temperament of a prodigy
skyrocketing (prices)
natural (e.g. talent); innate; inborn; inherent
unique thing; best on earth
deva and naga; heavenly dragon
Tenpō era (1830.12.10-1844.12.2)
peerless; unequaled; unequalled
hereditary; congenital
blue sky; azure sky; spring sky
best article under heaven; peerless
splendid; praiseworthy; admirable; well done!; bravo!
God's gift; God's blessing; grace of God; godsend
heaven; paradise
natural monument; protected species (animal, habitat, etc.)
smallpox; variola
to get conceited; to become vain; to get stuck up; to get a swollen head; (lit.) to become a tengu
Heaven's blessing; gift of nature; natural resources
cherub; gods disguised as children; children parading as cherubs
godsend; gift from providence
destiny; will of Heaven; luck
furious; infuriated
divine will; providence
unification of the whole country
astonished; stunned; startled out of one's wits; thunderstruck; open-eyed astonishment
dawn; daybreak; Tenmei era (1781.4.2-1789.1.25)
halo; angel ring; glow of freshly washed or treated hair
southern sky; heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica); nandina
Lord of Heaven; God
natural product; product of nature
to fall from heaven (the sky)
blazing heat; scorching sun
to leave to chance; to resign oneself to one's fate; to leave the rest to heaven
central black dot on a go board; Tengen era (978.11.29-983.4.15)
retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation; command (from superior to inferior, government to private sector, etc.); order; descent from heaven
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
optimist; easy-going person
fine weather
ruler of the whole country; person who holds the reins of government
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
the whole world; throughout heaven and earth
Nandikesvara (Ganesh in the Buddhist pantheon)
sun drying; solar drying
night sky
mortal enemy; sworn enemy; nemesis
Tianjin (China)
natural talents
the gods of heaven and earth
godsend; heaven's gift
Vaisravana (guardian god of Buddhism)
celestial sphere; the heavens
natural airhead; person prone to making silly mistakes
Sun Goddess; Amaterasu Ōmikami
creation (of the universe); the Creation
peerless; unequalled; unequaled
strategic point; crucial time; watershed; crunch
naturally curly hair
tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter
stormy weather
deduction in advance (of tax, interest, etc.)
perfect beauty with no trace of artifice; flawless
the whole sky; firmament
Tenpyō era (729.8.5-749.4.14); Tenbyō era; Tenhei era
the world and the nation; the state of the world; high affairs of state
pedestrian mall; car-free mall; (lit.) pedestrian paradise
changing the world; turning the tide; torpedo modified as a suicide weapon (used in WWII)
celestial world; heaven
cannot allow (oneself) to live (with someone) under the canopy of heaven; cannot allow (the sworn enemy) to live in this world; irreconcilable (enemy)
nurse; (lit.) angel in white
the heavenly eye; rolling back one's eyes during convulsions
creation of heaven and earth
difference between night and day; world of difference; (being) poles apart; (lit.) difference between heaven and earth
sixth heaven (of the desire realm)
peace and tranquillity; halcyon times of peace; peaceful world
heaven's dispensation; divine providence; plan of nature
divine aid; divine grace; providential help
blue sky; skyrocketing (of prices); having no limit; the sky being the limit
divine aid; divine grace; providential help
naturally curly hair
Tendai sect (of Buddhism)
Brahma (Hindu god); large staff with plaited paper streamers (used at religious festivals or as a sign); buoy (used in longline fishing, gillnetting, etc.); down puff (on the end of an ear pick)
one's earthly existence; living under heaven
the Imperial Family
fateful; decisive (e.g. war)
shoulder carrying pole
rule over the whole country
small, crow-billed tengu
Ptolemaic theory; geocentric model; geocentrism
Tendai sect (of Buddhism)
celestial fox; fox with supernatural powers (sometimes said to live in the heavens)
water and sky; Varuna; Vedic god of water and sky (adopted into Buddhism as god of water and protector of the west)
Emperor Meiji (1852-1912, reigned 1867-1912); Emperor Mutsuhito
in the open; the open air
licensed; chartered; officially allowed; legitimate
unify the nation by force; (lit.) spread military force under the heavens
decorative ceiling painting
heavenly garment
tenmoku; ceramics (esp. tea bowls) with a dark glaze that resembles oil spotting; tenmoku tea-bowl; dark-glazed conical tea-bowl of Chinese origin
celestial globe; armillary sphere
fine weather; splendid weather
fine weather; fair weather
natural water; untreated water; spring water
Śakra (Deva); Shakra; Indra; Shakra Devanam Indra; the king of heaven in Hindu mythology
Sun Goddess; Amaterasu Ōmikami
native rock; natural rock
heavenly; divine; inspired; heaven sent
(going straight) from heaven to hell
cherubim; cherub
boorishness; coarseness; stupidity
beyond the heavens; farthest regions; furthest regions
arched ceiling; vaulted ceiling; domed ceiling; circular ceiling
trusting to chance; having a go at something
padre; title for Portuguese Jesuits (in Japan in the 16th century); Christianity; Christian
natural laws; rule of heaven
inherent; innate
Benzaiten; Saraswati; goddess of music, eloquence, also wealth and water
Sirius (star in the constellation Canis Major); Alpha Canis Majoris; the Dog Star
weather; sky colour; sky color
Gate of the Celestial Rock Cave
imperial court
all over the world
Emperor Shōwa (1901-1989, reigned 1926-1989); Emperor Showa; Emperor Hirohito
heavenly beings shown flying around the main image in a temple; Feitian (2008 Chinese space suit)
large tengu; powerful tengu; big braggart; blowhard
God doesn't give with both hands; God does not give two gifts; heaven does not grant people more than one talent
the Emperor System
imperial lands; shogun's demesne
Marici (Buddhist god of war)
secret of nature; profound secret; disposition; character; emperor's health; emperor's well-being
acquired; a posteriori
the best in the land; the best of its kind in the country; par excellence in the whole country
heaven and earth
unseasonable weather; fickle weather; bad weather
astronomical observation; shooting the sun
sun shower; sudden rain from a blue sky
Libra (constellation); the Scales
the whole nation; all the people in the land
the eastern sky
Tenmangu shrine (shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane's spirit)
peace and tranquillity; halcyon times of peace; peaceful world
virtuous emperor
northern sky
zenith; divine will; providence
weather; astronomical phenomena
natural defences; natural defenses; steep place
the whole creation; everything in heaven and earth
tenkasu; crunchy bits of fried batter left after cooking tempura
man proposes, God disposes; (lit.) man does what man can do then awaits the verdict of heaven (or fate)
horizon; distant land; skyline; heavenly shores; remote region
to soar (esp. of spirits and gods)
heavenly gods
ladybug (Harmonia axyridis); ladybird
Tenna era (1681.9.29-1684.2.21); Tenwa era
the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess
the whole country; the public; the world; the ruling power; having one's own way
innate ability; innate talent; natural gift
(product of) nature; born (musician)
to soar (esp. of spirits and gods)
fire caused by lightning
natural calamity; striking phenomena in heaven and earth
Mahakala (incarnation of Mahesvara); Daikokuten (god of wealth)
Tenrikyo (Shinto sect)
sky; the heavens; God; the Lord; ascension (into heaven)
natural airhead; person prone to making silly mistakes
naturally occurring; nature; disposition; vocation; calling
the Milky Way
arched ceiling; vaulted ceiling; domed ceiling; circular ceiling
all-weather; weather-proof
albatross (esp. the short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus)
natural law; rule of heaven
descendant of a god; heavenly grandson
to descend from heaven
Ama-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi (heavenly gathering of clouds sword; one of the three Imperial regalia)
small tengu; promising young martial arts practitioner
the whole country; the public; the world; the ruling power; having one's own way
astronomical figure; astronomical number
right and proper; legal
the whole world
Chandra (Hindu moon god also revered as one of the twelve devas in Shingon Buddhism); (arch.) moon
crab omelet on rice
short-lived rule; being in power only for a brief period; brief championship
the sun; providence; god
various deities; the gods
natural defences; natural defenses; steep place
open-cut or open-air (strip) mining
pillars supporting heaven
Tentoku era (957.10.27-961.2.16)
a posteriori; posteriority
thin dipping sauce for tempura
world of the tengu; hell of the long-nosed goblins
heavenly hosts
to turn 50; to reach 50 years of age
sky; heavens; palace
Emperor's Birthday (national holiday held from 1868 to 1948)
Ten'ichijin; Nakagami; god of fortune in Onmyōdō who descends to the northeast on the 46th day of the sexagenary cycle and completes a clockwise circuit, spending five days on each cardinal point and six days on each ordinal point, returning to heaven from the north on the 30th day of the next sexagenary cycle; travelling in the direction of Ten'ichijin is considered unlucky
Gozu Tenno (deity said to be the Indian god Gavagriva)
angel's feathered robe
to descend from heaven
storage space above closet
imperial inspection
point of heaven; corner of the sky
being cleared of all the charge (brought against one); being found completely innocent
heaven, earth and man
to spit in the wind; to piss in the wind; to get caught in your own trap; to reap what you sow; (lit.) to turn to the sky and spit
heaven's vengeance; heaven's net
do not turn upside down
traditional short winter coat resembling a haori without gussets; livery coat; half the sky; mid-air; middle of the sky
early morning; dawn
rain or shine; no postponement for rain
imperial authority; imperial majesty
Tenpyō period (esp. used as a period of art history, 710-794 CE)
Tenpō era (742-756)
Kurama tengu; the tengu of Mount Kurama
line between victory and defeat
liquefied natural gas; LNG
natural talents
the certainty of divine punishment; Swift is Heaven's vengeance
to boil with rage; to be infuriated
cancelled because of rain; wash out
changing the world; turning the tide; torpedo modified as a suicide weapon (used in WWII)
natural colour; natural color; technicolor
Tengyō era (938.5.22-947.4.22); Tenkei era
style of classical Japanese swordsmanship involving use of two swords
work of nature
China and India; far away
spell of fine weather
to go to heaven; to be called to heaven
small, crow-billed tengu
Milky Way; luminous band corresponding to the plane of the galaxy
imperial coronation crown; celestial crown; crown worn by Buddha and celestial beings
natural rubber; India rubber; caoutchouc
inauspicious time in four pillar astrology
naturally growing tree; tree that does not grow in a tree plantation; natural wood
Emperor Taishō (1879-1926, reigned 1912-1926); Emperor Yoshihito
bad weather; nasty weather
heaven's vengeance is slow but sure; heaven's net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through
Tenmoku tea-bowl; dark-glazed conical tea-bowl of Chinese origin
twelve devas (esp. of the Shingon sect)
Sri-mahadevi (consort of Vaishravana)
Tempo Reforms (series of government measures, 1841-1843 CE)
the sun; sunlight; heat of the sun
to have a break in the conversation; to experience an awkward silence; (lit.) an angel passes
divine punishment
queen of heaven
heavenly immortal (in Taoism)
astronomical unit; AU
retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation; command (from superior to inferior, government to private sector, etc.); order; descent from heaven
naturally curly hair
natural gifts; Tenju era (of the Southern Court; 1375.5.27-1381.2.10)
astonished; stunned; startled out of one's wits; thunderstruck; open-eyed astonishment
naturally-derived; naturally-occurring
to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
weak tengu; small tengu
Yuanshi Tianzun (one of the supreme divinities of Taoism)
armillary sphere
the three deities (Marici, Mahakala, Sarasvati); the three celestials (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma)
(Catholic) church; cathedral
photograph of an astral body
Benzaiten; Saraswati; goddess of music, eloquence, also wealth and water
theory of the Emperor as an organ of government
weather; temper; mood
(Roman) Catholicism
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
rising into the heavens
magnifying glass (esp. in physiognomy, palm reading, etc.)
astronomical phenomenon; celestial event
there's but a fine line between genius and insanity
bad weather
there's but a fine line between genius and insanity
the ancestral Sun Goddess
Tenbun era (1532.7.29-1555.10.23)
Heavenly Father; God
(balance) scales; shoulder carrying pole; steelyard
gods of heaven and earth
the full scope of the heavens; 360 degrees; one full revolution of Earth; twelve years; one full cycle of the Chinese calendar
balance scale; balance
His Majesty the Emperor; the present emperor; the reigning emperor
Nandikesvara (Ganesh in the Buddhist pantheon)
upper surface; top side
tempura flour (flour mixed with starch, etc.)
as eternal as heaven and earth
Vaisravana (Buddhist deity)
Tenroku era (970.3.25-973.12.20)
gallery (in a theatre); upper gallery; cheap seats; nosebleed section; the gods
tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter
Tenryaku era (947.4.22-957.10.27)
heavenly being; celestial being; celestial nymph; celestial maiden
natural products
game held with the Emperor in attendance
blessings of heaven; favour of emperor; favor of emperor; divination's luckiest day; blessings of nature
Emperor's Birthday (national holiday; February 23)
the sky; the heavens
money comes and goes; money goes around and around
money comes and goes; money goes around and around
drought; dry weather
providence; heaven
earth and heaven; human and heavenly beings
Sun Goddess; Amaterasu Ōmikami
Ministry of State (Zhou-dynasty China)
celestite; celestine
gelidium jelly strips (made from agar-agar); prostate orgasm
Tusita heaven; Tushita; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
main southern gate of the Heian Palace's reception compound
full of vigor and vitality (like the rising sun) (vigour); being in the ascendant
Virupaksa (Buddhist deity)
Tenchō era (824.1.5-834.1.3)
Virudhaka (Buddhist deity)
Ten'an era (857.2.21-859.4.15)
whirl of busyness; flurry of activity; being rushed off one's feet; having a very busy time (doing)
Sirius (star in the constellation Canis Major); Alpha Canis Majoris; the Dog Star
deva realm (svarga); path in the heavens
drought; dry weather
gilt top (book)
a bolt out of the blue
heaven's net has large meshes, but nothing escapes
divine grace; God's help
in heaven; heavenly
Tenpyō-hōji era (757.8.18-765.1.7)
common knowledge; widely known; known to everybody
Dhrtarastra (Buddhist deity)
rescheduled in case of rain
autumn comes with harvest time and clear weather; (lit.) autumn with the sky clear and blue, and horses growing stout
all-weather; weather-proof
corduroy; corded velveteen
the world; the universe
emperor's knowledge
sound of wind; beautiful poetry
the Imperial Army; heaven-send army
heaven's vengeance is slow but sure; heaven's net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through
elephant hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor)
Cheondoism; Chondoism; Korean religion
rain from a cloudless sky
heaven of enjoying emanations; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864)
Heaven is black and earth is yellow; heaven and earth
Hansen's disease; leprosy
rumbling and shaking of the earth
being in a towering rage; boiling with rage
emperor's countenance
Mahesvara (Shiva in the Buddhist pantheon)
Surya (Hindu sun god also revered as one of the twelve devas in Shingon Buddhism); (arch.) sun
silver vine (Actinidia polygama); cat powder
street vendor; stallholder; stallkeeper
heaven of controlling others' emanations
celestial navigation; astronavigation; celonavigation
traditional short winter coat resembling a haori without gussets; livery coat
break (change for the worse) in the weather
Enkianthus perulatus (species of flowering plant in the Ericaceae family)
onigiri with shrimp tempura filling
heavenly voice
tenkasu; crunchy bits of fried batter left after cooking tempura
Tiananmen Square Massacre (1989); Tiananmen Square Incident
emperor's gift cup
days on which Ten'ichijin is in heaven (the 30th to the 45th days of the sexagenary cycle)
gifted education; education of gifted children
to soar high (building, etc.)
eventful times for the nation (world); the nation (world) being in turmoil; the storm clouds gathering in the land
The Nonpareil Kitchen (nickname for Osaka); The Kitchen of the Nation
Libra (7th zodiacal sign); the Scales
natural fibers; natural fibres
Tenpyō-shōhō era (749.7.2-757.8.18)
divine punishment
nature; natural elements
tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter
optimistic view of life; optimism
pedestrian mall; car-free pedestrian mall; (lit.) pedestrian paradise
the open sky and the serene sea; as open as the sky and serene as the sea; magnanimous
heaven of the thirty-three; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
peerless; unequaled; unequalled
heavenly; celestial; divine
die; dice; gambling with dice; playing hazard; You can never tell what will pop up
stand for tea bowls (tea ceremony)
Ten'ō era (781.1.1-782.8.19)
Ascension Day; Feast of the Ascension
weather wheel; pillar found near graveyards and temples with a wheel attached to it that can be used to communicate with the dead, as well as for divination; sun pillar
early morning crowing of a rooster; brown domestic fowl (chicken breed)
Blue Sky with a White Sun; party flag and emblem of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
being the sole master of the situation; reigning supreme; standing unchallenged
celestial axis
heaven without fighting; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
heaven of the Four Great Kings; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
chicken tempura (specialty of Oita prefecture)
looking up and down, from heaven to earth (having nothing to be ashamed of); swearing by Heaven and Earth (having done nothing to be ashamed of)
revere heaven, love people
(being in) high spirits
long-horned beetle
great joy; jubilation; exultation
the six domains of the desire realm; the six heavens of the desire realm
Scorpio (8th zodiacal sign); the Scorpion
weather information; weather report
heavenly blessing; Tenpuku era (1233.4.15-1234.11.5)
licensed; chartered; officially allowed; legitimate
oval gold coin struck by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1588
moody person; temperamental person; fickle person
guinea pig (any of five guinea pig species, esp. Cavia porcellus)
Brahma (Hindu creator god)
to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
predicting the weather from the wind direction, shape of clouds, etc.
Scorpio (8th zodiacal sign); the Scorpion
being dependent on what the weather is like
Tensei Jingo; daily column in the Asahi Shimbun
Japanese oak silkmoth (Antheraea yamamai)
celestial poles
tomb of Japanese emperor; Japanese imperial burial site
high in the sky; highest heaven
postponed because of rain
silkworm gut; catgut
Treaty of Tianjin (1858, 1871, 1885)
true merit; natural nobility
deva; celestial being
the open sky and the serene sea; as open as the sky and serene as the sea; magnanimous
rock flying out of nowhere (while in the mountains)
natural form (of a vitamin, etc.); native form; naturally occurring
Assumption (of the body and soul of Mary into heaven)
sun drying; drying in the sun
selfless devotion to justice
Tenshō era (1131.1.29-1132.8.11)
peerless (unparalleled, matchless, unequaled) in the country
large sound of unknown source heard on a forested mountain
the laws of nature and humanity
gelidium jelly strips (made from agar-agar); prostate orgasm
very far away; the heavenly shores
sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca); Egyptian cucumber; loofah; loofa; something useless
Ten'yō era (1144.2.23-1145.7.22)
blessing of heaven; hand in which the dealer goes out on their initial deal
silk velvet
moody person; temperamental person; fickle person
the emperor as a symbol of Japan; symbolic emperor
seven-spot ladybird; seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
whirl of busyness; flurry of activity; being rushed off one's feet; having a very busy time (doing)
Yama (as protector deity of the south in esoteric Buddhism)
the laws of nature and humanity
naturally; spontaneously
to spit in the wind; to piss in the wind; to get caught in your own trap; to reap what you sow; (lit.) to turn to the sky and spit
flowers blooming in moonlight
the sentient world; all sentient beings
natural airhead; person prone to making silly mistakes
Festival of Emperor Jimmu (formerly held annually on April 3, the supposed day of his death)
there's but a fine line between genius and insanity
Imperial Standard
style of haikai or haiku from the Tenmei era (based on a return to the style of Basho); style of comical tanka from the Tenmei era (popularized by Oota Nampo)
long spell of rainy weather
natural perfume; naturally fragrances
female emperor (of Japan)
natural rights of man
to be in high spirits
death of a Christian (in Catholicism)
a bolt out of the blue
Shuten-dōji; mythical Japanese oni (demon) who lived on Mt. Ōe
general weather conditions
Tenpo calendar; Japan's last lunisolar calendar (in use from 1844 to 1872)
Tennin era (1108.8.3-1110.7.13)
two places being far apart
blessing of heaven; hand in which the dealer goes out on their initial deal
Mahesvara (Shiva in the Buddhist pantheon)
emperor's work
being the sole master of the situation; reigning supreme; standing unchallenged
winter sky; wintry weather
those who wish to rule the land must first cultivate their own characters, then manage their families, then govern their states; only then can they bring peace to the land
right triumphs over wrong, law triumphs over right, power triumphs over law, heaven triumphs over power; no man can oppose the divine
Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth; flag of the Republic of China
extremely overbearing wife
to advance unobstructed
hattengu; tengu said to live among the 8 mountains of Atago, Hira, Daisen, Ōmine, Kurama, Iizuna, Hiko, and Shiramine
Tiangong (Chinese space program)
the eight legions (devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas)
Ōtenmon conspiracy; political incident in 866 CE centered around the destruction by fire of the main gate of the imperial palace
Assumption of Mary (August 15); the Assumption
providential; natural
panther cap (species of poisonous mushroom, Amanita pantherina)
very short-lived regime; very brief reign; (lit.) (Napoleon's post-Elba) Hundred Days
Etenraku (Japanese court music composition)
fertile land; deep scholarship
radio astronomy observatory
circumzenithal arc; cicumzenith arc
Tenji era (1124.4.3-1126.1.22)
Tenpyō-kanpō era (749.4.14-749.7.2); Tenbyō-kanpō era
to be like a frog in a well; to make (faulty) assumptions based on one's limited understanding of something; (lit.) to look at the skies through the eye of a needle
box lunch with tempura
person who brags about (or prides themselves on) their fishing skill
Ten'ei era (1110.7.13-1113.7.13)
gifted with two things (usu. beauty and intelligence)
weak tengu; small tengu
hawk moth (any moth of family Sphingidae); hawkmoth; sphinx moth
manifestation (revelation) of one's natural sincerity (naivete)
short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis)
Way of the Celestial Masters (ancient Chinese Daoist movement orig. known as The Way of the Five Pecks of Rice)
category of noh plays who depict a tengu as the leading character; goblin piece
balance scale; balance
relationship of being natural enemies
Chandra (Hindu moon god also revered as one of the twelve devas in Shingon Buddhism); (arch.) moon
tempura soba without the noodles; missing the vital element
Tengi era (1053.1.11-1058.8.29)
fly agaric (species of poisonous mushroom, Amanita muscaria)
Emperor of Japan
another world; enchanted land; joy from drinking and forgetting about the workaday world
sincerity can move heaven
to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
celestial stems (10 signs of the Chinese calendar)
skylark (Alauda arvensis); Mongolian lark (Melanocorypha mongolica)
natural endowment; natural ability
Tensho karuta; the first domestically produced Japanese deck of cards, closely based on Latin-suited decks brought over by the Portuguese
rock flying out of nowhere (while in the mountains)
Nihon Montoku Tennō Jitsuroku (fifth of the six classical Japanese history texts)
The world is covered in darkness; All is plunged into darkness
another world; enchanted land; joy from drinking and forgetting about the workaday world
one's last resort; trump card
weather conditions
emperor's knowledge
Vaisravana (Buddhist deity)
boastful story; story about tengu
imperial throne
skyrocketing (prices)
wandering lordless samurai
there's no flying from fate; you can't fight fate
piling up high (food in a bowl); filling (a bowl); heaped bowl
self-conceited person; ego-tripper; swelled head
to leak a major secret
Yama (as protector deity of the south in esoteric Buddhism)
land-locked variety of red-spotted masu trout (Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae); amago
Ten'en era (973.12.20-976.7.13)
sphere of fixed stars (in the Ptolemaic system)
trans-Neptunian object; transneptunian object; TNO
heaven of enjoying emanations; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
route skirting the Tian Shan Mountains to the north; region north of the Tian Shan Mountains
(balance) scales; shoulder carrying pole; steelyard
the eight legions (devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas)
heaven-shaking event; earth-shattering occurrence
to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
view in the distant offing where the sea and skyline cannot be distinguished
Tenpyō-jingo era (765.1.7-767.8.16)
tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
piling up high (food in a bowl); filling (a bowl); heaped bowl
castle tower
God's gift; God's blessing; grace of God; godsend
natural airhead; person prone to making silly mistakes
padre; title for Portuguese Jesuits (in Japan in the 16th century); Christianity; Christian
balance wheel (in a watch); balance
balance wheel (in a watch); balance
finishing touch; completing (something) by executing the final, critical step
Benzaiten; Saraswati; goddess of music, eloquence, also wealth and water
Benzaiten; Saraswati; goddess of music, eloquence, also wealth and water
heavenly; imperial
heavenly; imperial
tenkasu; crunchy bits of fried batter left after cooking tempura
natural calamity; striking phenomena in heaven and earth
postpositions; particles
postpositions; particles
Ten'ichijin; Nakagami; god of fortune in Onmyōdō who descends to the northeast on the 46th day of the sexagenary cycle and completes a clockwise circuit, spending five days on each cardinal point and six days on each ordinal point, returning to heaven from the north on the 30th day of the next sexagenary cycle; travelling in the direction of Ten'ichijin is considered unlucky
thin dipping sauce for tempura
open-cut or open-air (strip) mining
weak tengu; small tengu
weak tengu; small tengu
gallery (in a theatre); upper gallery; cheap seats; nosebleed section; the gods
gods of heaven and earth
(arch.) grandchild of Amaterasu (i.e. Ninigi no Mikoto); descendant of Amaterasu; person of imperial lineage; emperor
Enkianthus perulatus (species of flowering plant in the Ericaceae family)
Enkianthus perulatus (species of flowering plant in the Ericaceae family)
wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)
Emperor of Japan
emperor's gift cup
heaven of the thirty-three; one of the six heavens of the desire realm
tengujo (thin washi); tengucho
boiled pine pitch and oil (traditionally used as a glue in archery, etc.)
boiled pine pitch and oil (traditionally used as a glue in archery, etc.)
Amakusa jellyfish (Sanderia malayensis)
Amakusa jellyfish (Sanderia malayensis)
proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus); long-nosed monkey
moody person; temperamental person; fickle person
death cap (Amanita phalloides); death cup
view in the distant offing where the sea and skyline cannot be distinguished
Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis); Halloween beetle; harlequin ladybird
Ficus erecta (species of ficus)
white-spotted citrus longhorned beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca)
eeny, meeny, miny, moe; eenie, meenie, minie, moe
to be like a frog in a well; to make (faulty) assumptions based on one's limited understanding of something; (lit.) to look at the skies through the eye of a needle
person who brags about (or prides themselves on) their fishing skill
jack-in-the-pulpit; cobra lily (plant of genus Arisaema)
self-conceited person; ego-tripper; swelled head
tempura soba without the noodles; missing the vital element
keiskei fetterbush (Leucothoe keiskei); doghobble; dog hobble
to leak a major secret
to leak a major secret
Tensho karuta; the first domestically produced Japanese deck of cards, closely based on Latin-suited decks brought over by the Portuguese
wasp beetle (Cerambycidae)
goatee; drooping moustache
boastful story; story about tengu
falling headlong; plummeting; sudden crash
clouds in the sky
heaven-sent warning
heavenly gift; imperial gift
river raised above the surrounding land
natural harbor; natural harbour
star worship; astrolatry
coeval with heaven and earth
sun-dried brick; adobe
solar-evaporation process (in salt making)
Wei-To (temple guardian sometimes confused with Vajrapani)
upper-level weather chart
Polaris (star in the constellation Ursa Minor); Alpha Ursae Minoris; the North Star
Emperor's Cup; trophy given to tournament winners
wrestling performed in imperial presence
welcome (beneficial) rain in a drought; realization of something eagerly looked for; a welcome relief
beside oneself with joy; in raptures; in an ecstasy of delight
welcome (beneficial) rain in a drought; realization of something eagerly looked for; a welcome relief
braggart; boaster; self-conceited person
a great distance does not detract from the feeling (relationship) of endearment; feeling as though a dear one faraway were living in one's close neighborhood
Heaven and earth are eternal
husband being henpecked; house where the wife is the boss; petticoat government
nuclear astrophysics
death (of a Christian)
matrilineal emperor of Japan; emperor (either male or female) whose mother is (was) a member of the Imperial family but whose father is (was) not
analytical balance; direct reading balance
analytical balance; direct reading balance
gagaku of Indian origin
Tenpyō shaku (approx. 29.6 cm)
Ama no Ukihashi; the heavenly floating bridge by which gods are said to descend from the heavens to the earth
Ama no Ukihashi; the heavenly floating bridge by which gods are said to descend from the heavens to the earth
Ama no Nuhoko; the heavenly jeweled spear used by Izanagi and Izanami
Ama no Mihashira; the heavenly pillar on Onokoro Island, around which Izanagi and Izanami are said to have wed
people; subjects; populace
seven generations of celestial deities
Tendai Shinto (alt. name for Hie Shinto: a form of Shinto heavily influenced by Tendai)
natural moisturizing factor; NMF
Imperial Declaration of Humanity (renunciation of imperial claim to divinity; January 1, 1946)
historic sites, places of scenic beauty and natural monuments
bellows (of the) imperial harbor; Shinto Buddhist doctrines
dried Chinese asparagus root
Mahonia japonica; Japanese mahonia
ceremony held to pray for good weather (during long periods of rain)
ceremony held to pray for good weather (during long periods of rain)
tuning peg (on a biwa or shamisen)
flowers that bloom in the heavens; paper flowers scattered before the Buddha's image
flowers that bloom in the heavens; paper flowers scattered before the Buddha's image
open-pit coal mine; open-cut coal mine
open-pit coal mine; open-cut coal mine
auspicious day for any activity (according to the koyomi)
Edo period office in charge of compiling the koyomi, astronomical measurements, surveying, translating Western books, etc.
day of Ten'ichijin's first ascension to heaven in a year (the 30th day of the first sexagenary cycle of the year)
(ritsuryo system) teacher responsible for training in astronomy, astrology, calendar-making, etc.
intrusive person; being intrusive; (lit.) a tinker's shoulder pole
intrusive person; being intrusive; (lit.) a tinker's shoulder pole
pressing forward without giving a chance to explain
pressing forward without giving a chance to explain
astronomical ephemeris; ephemeris
rise of the dragon (bringing rain around the time of the spring equinox)
rise of the dragon (bringing rain around the time of the spring equinox)
to harm oneself in an attempt to harm someone else; (lit.) to spit at the heavens and have one's spit land back on one's face
weather-driven market; weather-dependent market
to have a narrow view of things; (lit.) to look at the ceiling through a reed
to have a narrow view of things; (lit.) to look at the ceiling through a reed
divine hearing (one of the six supernormal Buddhist powers)
area of clear sky
pressing the top of a pickle vat by hanging a weight on a staff, used as a lever (in Kyoto suguki pickle making)
(sake) brewed in wooden vats, squeezed out by weight on a pole
(sake) brewed in wooden vats, squeezed out by weight on a pole
head and shoulders (chartist pattern)
not wanting to live in the same world as one's father's or lord's enemies; being prepared to sacrifice one's life to avenge one's father or lord
doll onto which a child's misfortune is transferred
doll onto which a child's misfortune is transferred
sinking of the South Korean navy ship Cheonan (allegedly by a North Korean torpedo; March 26, 2010)
hydrologic cycle; water cycle
bat (animal)
Jersey stitch (knitware)
Surya (Hindu sun god also revered as one of the twelve devas in Shingon Buddhism); (arch.) sun
confidential report to the ruler of the country of astronomical events and their astrological interpretation
witches' broom (plant disease); hexenbesen
to think of something bizarre; to suddenly have a whacky idea
to think of something bizarre; to suddenly have a whacky idea
patripassianism (theology)
archaeoastronomy; archeoastronomy
archaeoastronomy; archeoastronomy
trans-Neptunian object; transneptunian object; TNO
to make a personal judgment on a problem with little insight; (lit.) to look at the sky through a tube (Zhuangzi)
the skies open up; to rain cats and dogs
don't eat plum pits (because they are poisonous); (lit.) if you eat a plum, don't eat the kernel; inside it heavenly gods sleep
don't eat plum pits (because they are poisonous); (lit.) if you eat a plum, don't eat the kernel; inside it heavenly gods sleep
you can do anything if you set your mind to; (lit.) even an ant's thoughts reach the heavens
former Christian missionary who apostatized and converted to Buddhism (during the Edo period)
patrilineal imperial succession (Japan)
prosperity to the emperor
prosperity to the emperor
to have a narrow view of things; (lit.) to peep at the sky through a keyhole
to have a narrow view of things; (lit.) to peep at the sky through a keyhole
extreme difference; worlds apart
a straw will show which way the wind blows; a falling leaf shows that autumn has come
enormous thing; greatly; very
natural disasters happen when you've forgotten about the previous ones
natural disasters happen when you've forgotten about the previous ones
Macao; Macau
Acala's eyes, one looking up and the other looking down
everyone has their favorite; pick the right thing to please someone; (lit.) catnip for cats, gold coins for prostitutes
embedded in the ceiling (of a fan, air conditioning unit, etc.); ceiling-mounted
embedded in the ceiling (of a fan, air conditioning unit, etc.); ceiling-mounted
Ana'ichi (script)
astronomical spectroscopy; astronomical photometry
natural bridge; natural arch
Jesuit publications (16th-17th century)
redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus)
sooty albatross (Phoebetria fusca)
Laysan albatross (Diomedea immutabilis)
black-footed albatross (Diomedea nigripes)
lobster moth (Stauropus fagi persimilis)
pin-tailed whydah (species of weaverbird, Vidua macroura)
Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat (Murina hilgendorfi)
tapestry turban (species of turban shell, Turbo petholatus)
Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus); bummalo
vertical-striped cardinalfish (Apogon lineatus); Indian perch; coral fish
seven-arm octopus (Haliphron atlanticus)
Brazilian guinea pig (Cavia aperea)
shiny guinea pig (Cavia fulgida)
montane guinea pig (Cavia tschudii)
Ussuri tube-nosed bat (Murina ussuriensis)
tube-nosed fruit bat (Nyctimeninae spp., esp. the common tube-nosed fruit bat, Nyctimene albiventer)
Examples (200 in total)
Only he and the heavens know what he experienced.
There are windows on the floor, and doors on the ceiling.
He looked up at the ceiling.