Translation guide
The English word 'divine' can be an adjective meaning 'god-like' or 'wonderful', or a verb meaning 'to discover intuitively' or 'to foretell'. This guide covers both uses, with natural Japanese equivalents.
Describing something as sacred, godly, or supremely beautiful.
The most common and neutral word for 'divine' in the sense of sacred or holy. Used for religious contexts and things that inspire reverence.
この場所は神聖な雰囲気がある。
This place has a divine atmosphere.
Emphasizes a sublime, awe-inspiring quality, often used for natural beauty or majestic scenes. More literary than 神聖な.
山頂からの景色は神々しかった。
The view from the mountaintop was divine.
Literally 'of God/gods'. Used in set phrases like 'divine will' or 'divine punishment'. Less common as a standalone adjective.
それは神の意志だ。
It is divine will.
Means 'heavenly' or 'celestial'. Used in poetic or religious contexts, such as 'divine protection'.
天の恵みに感謝する。
I am grateful for divine blessings.
Expressing that something is extremely good, delightful, or perfect in a casual, hyperbolic way.
The most common casual way to say something is 'divine' in the sense of 'the best' or 'awesome'. Used for food, experiences, etc.
このケーキ、最高！
This cake is divine!
A standard word for 'wonderful' or 'splendid'. Slightly more formal than 最高, but still common in speech.
Specifically used for food or drink that is exquisite, a masterpiece. Conveys 'divine' in a gourmet sense.
To realize or sense something without clear evidence; to have a sudden insight.
Means 'to sense' or 'to infer' based on subtle cues. Often used for understanding feelings or situations intuitively.
彼女の気持ちを察した。
I divined her feelings.
To see through something, to perceive the truth. Stronger than 察する, implies penetrating a disguise or hidden fact.
To know by intuition. A direct translation of 'divine' as intuitive knowing, but less common in daily speech.
彼は危険を直感した。
He divined the danger.
To predict the future or reveal hidden knowledge through supernatural means.
The standard word for 'to prophesy' or 'to predict' in a mystical or religious context.
預言者が未来を予言した。
The prophet divined the future.
To tell fortunes, to divine using methods like tarot or astrology. Common in everyday contexts.
彼女はカードで運命を占った。
She divined fate with cards.
A formal, archaic term for divination, often using tortoise shells or yarrow stalks. Rarely used outside historical or literary contexts.
While 神聖な means 'sacred', it is not used for casual praise like 'This cake is divine!'. Use 最高 or 素晴らしい instead.
このケーキ、最高！
This cake is divine!
素晴らしい演奏だった。
It was a divine performance.
このワインは絶品だ。
This wine is divine.
He divined the lie.
In ancient China, they divined using tortoise shells.