Translation and Meaning of: 天 - amatsu

The Japanese word 天[あまつ] carries a historical and cultural weight that goes beyond the simple meaning of "celestial" or "imperial." If you have ever wondered about the origin of this term, how it is used in everyday life, or even how to memorize it efficiently, this article is for you. Here, we will explore the etymology, the pictogram, and curiosities about this expression that appears in religious, mythological, and even formal language contexts. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition method, you will love the practical tips we have gathered.

In the largest Japanese dictionary, Suki Nihongo, you will find not only the precise translation of 天[あまつ], but also examples of sentences and the correct writing of the kanji. But why is this word so special? It is linked to divine concepts and Japanese royalty, appearing in ancient texts and even in the names of sacred places. If you have come across it in mangas, animes, or even in historical documents, you know there is something mystical behind these characters.

Origin and etymology of 天[あまつ]

The root of 天[あまつ] dates back to ancient Japan, where it was used to refer to the "sky" not just as a physical space, but as a divine realm. The kanji 天, by itself, already evokes the idea of something superior, and when combined with the reading あまつ, it takes on an even more solemn tone. This form of reading is a classic example of kotodama, the belief that words carry spiritual power.

It's interesting to note that while 天 alone can be read as "ten" (as in "tenki" - weather), the reading あまつ is reserved for specific contexts, often related to the imperial family or Shinto deities. You may have heard of Ama-no-Iwato, the celestial cave of Japanese mythology – do you see how the prefix "ama" appears here? It's not a coincidence.

Modern usage and cultural connections

Nowadays, 天[あまつ] is not a word you will hear at the supermarket, but it persists in honorific titles, names of temples, and even in poetic expressions. For example, "amatsukami" (celestial gods) is a term that still appears in religious festivals. If you visit Kyoto, you will find shrines where this archaic language is preserved almost like a national treasure.

A common prank among students is to confuse 天[あまつ] with similar words like 雨 (ame - rain). An infallible tip? Think that the "sky" in 天 has a wide horizontal stroke, as if it embraces everything underneath – while "rain" flows along the vertical strokes. This mental image helps to differentiate them when writing. And if you enjoy puns, how about remembering that "ama" in あまつ sounds like "ama" (mother) in Portuguese? The mother of all skies!

Tips for memorization and popular searches

Those who search for 天[あまつ] on Google usually want to know three things: how it is written, the difference from other readings of 天, and in which contexts it appears. An effective way to reinforce the term is to associate it with striking images – I personally remember it thinking of the golden ceiling of Ise Shrine, which seems to touch the sky. Apps like Anki work well with cards that show the kanji on one side and a photo of a temple or ancient painting on the other.

Interestingly, this word rarely appears alone in contemporary Japanese – it almost always comes accompanied, either in compounds like 天津 (amatsu - "celestial port", an ancient name for sacred regions) or in titles like 天照 (Amaterasu, the sun goddess). This explains why many searches include these combinations. If you want to impress a Japanese teacher, drop an "amatsukami" in the next class and see the reaction!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

天空 (Tenkū) - Sky (usually used to describe the sky in a broad context)
天上 (Tenjō) - Above the sky (often associated with celestial places)
天穹 (Tenkyū) - Celestial arc (refers to the vault of the sky)
天堂 (Tendō) - Paradise (a place of eternal happiness)
天国 (Tengoku) - Kingdom of Heaven (similar to paradise, but can be interpreted in a more religious context)
天神 (Tenshin) - Gods of the sky (deities that inhabit the sky)
天皇 (Tennō) - Emperor of Japan (title of the Japanese monarch)
天道 (Tendō) - Celestial path (concept of a moral or irresistible order of the universe)
天候 (Tenko) - Weather (refers to atmospheric conditions)
天候予報 (Tenko Yobō) - Weather forecast (information about future weather conditions)

Related words

天地

ametsuchi

sky and earth; the universe; nature; top and bottom; Kingdom; ball; world

天井

tenjyou

roof; ceiling price

天体

tentai

Celestial Body

天然

tennen

nature; spontaneity

天下

tenka

the world; All country; offspring of heaven; having your own way; the public; the ruling power

天気

tenki

climate; the elements; good time

天候

tenkou

weather

天国

tengoku

Paradise; sky; Kingdom of Heaven

天才

tensai

genius; prodigy; natural gift

天災

tensai

natural calamity; disaster

天

Romaji: amatsu
Kana: あまつ
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: heavenly; imperial

Meaning in English: heavenly;imperial

Definition: A kanji that means sky or space.

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (天) amatsu

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (天) amatsu:

Example Sentences - (天) amatsu

See below some example sentences:

今日は天気が荒れるかもしれません。

Kyou wa tenki ga areru kamoshiremasen

Today it may be that time becomes stormy.

Time may be difficult today.

今日 - today
は - Topic particle
天気 - time weather
が - subject particle
荒れる - become agitated/turbulent
かもしれません - maybe/possibly

今日の天気は晴れです。

Kyou no tenki wa hare desu

Today's time is sunny.

Time is sunny today.

今日の - of today
天気 - "tempo/clima"
は - Topic particle
晴れ - "ensolarado"
です - verb "to be/estar" in the present tense

天体観測が大好きです。

Tentaikansoku ga daisuki desu

I love observing celestial bodies.

I love astronomical observations.

天体観測 - Observing celestial bodies
が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
大好き - Much loved, adored
です - Particle indicating the end of a sentence and formality

天井には星が輝いている。

Tenjou ni wa hoshi ga kagayaite iru

On the ceiling

The stars are shining on the ceiling.

天井 (tenjou) - teto
に (ni) - particle indicating location
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
星 (hoshi) - star
が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
輝いている (kagayaiteiru) - shining, present continuous tense of the verb kagayaku

天地は永遠に続く。

Tenchi wa eien ni tsuzuku

The heavens and the earth last forever.

天地 - means "heaven and earth" in Japanese.
は - topic particle in Japanese.
永遠 - means "eternal" in Japanese.
に - particle of time in Japanese.
続く - means "to continue" in Japanese.

天国に行きたいです。

Tengoku ni ikitai desu

I want to go to paradise.

I want to go to heaven.

天国 (tengoku) - sky
に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
です (desu) - Particle that indicates the end of the sentence and politeness.

天気がいいですね。

Tenki ga ii desu ne

The weather is good

The weather is good.

天気 - It means "climate" in Japanese.
が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
いい - means "good" or "pleasant" in Japanese
です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a polite statement
ね - particle indicating a rhetorical question or confirmation

天才は努力の結果です。

Tensai wa doryoku no kekka desu

A genius is the result of effort.

天才 - It means "genius" in Japanese.
は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that the subject of the sentence is "genius".
努力 - It means "effort" in Japanese.
の - Particle of possession in Japanese, indicating that the "effort" belongs to the "genius."
結果 - It means "result" in Japanese.
です - The verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the "result" is the "genius" as a result of "effort."