天使
tenshi[tẽ̞ɰ̃ɕi]
The English word 'angel' is translated into Japanese as 天使 (tenshi). If unsure, use 天使. Wiktionary also lists 天の使い (ten no tsukai).
Meaning: messenger from a deity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 天使 | tenshi | [tẽ̞ɰ̃ɕi] (narrow) |
| 天の使い | ten no tsukai | [te̞n no̞ t͡sɨka̠i] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different terms depending on whether you are referring to a personified or religious angel or simply describing a messenger of the heavens.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 天使 is composed of 天 meaning 'heaven' and 使 meaning 'messenger', literally translating to 'heavenly messenger'. The phrase 天の使い literally means 'messenger of the heavens'.
Which one should you use?
While 天使 is the standard term for a religious or personified angel, 天の使い is a more descriptive and slightly more poetic way to refer to a divine messenger.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 'angel' as a possessive or to modify a noun, such as 'angel's wings', add the particle の after 天使 to form 天使の.
How do you pronounce it?
tenshi
Did you know?
- While 天使 refers to a Western-style angel, Japanese Buddhism has its own celestial messengers called tennin, which are often depicted as flying deities wearing flowing robes.
- The kanji 使 in 天使 also appears in the word 大使 for 'ambassador', reinforcing the idea that an angel is functionally a diplomatic envoy of the divine.
- The word 天使 is a loan from Middle Chinese, reflecting how early concepts of celestial messengers were transmitted to Japan via Chinese texts.
Examples in context
- 君は天使のような人だ！You're an angel!This sentence uses 天使 to show how the word can be used to describe a person's character.Tatoeba #4965 by bunbuku, translation #1557 by CE
- 天使にでもなってしまったの？Have you become an angel?This sentence uses 天使 to ask about someone becoming an angel.Tatoeba #1987823 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #1987824 by dryhay
- 彼女はまるで天使のようでした。She was like an angel.This sentence uses 天使 to make a comparison.Tatoeba #11924188 by small_snow, translation #10088209 by ddnktr
- 私は夢で天使に会ったんですよ。I met an angel in my dream.
- 彼は私のエンジェルです。He is my angel.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a beautiful painting in an art gallery.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの絵の天使はとても美しいですね。Kono e no tenshi wa totemo utsukushii desu ne.The angel in this painting is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、本当に神々しいです。Hai, hontou ni kougoushii desu.Yes, it is truly divine.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さんは、天使の実在を信じますか？Misaki-san wa, tenshi no jitsuzai o shinjimasu ka?Misaki, do you believe in the existence of angels?
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さん、それは難しい質問ですね。Hiroto-san, sore wa muzukashii shitsumon desu ne.Hiroto, that is a difficult question.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “angel” translations and entries 天使, 天の使い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 天使, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
