noun
swift divine punishment; heaven's vengeance is sure
A yojijukugo expressing the idea that divine retribution comes quickly and inevitably. Often used proverbially or in dramatic contexts.
悪事を働けば天罰覿面、必ず報いを受ける。
If you do evil, divine punishment will be swift and certain; you will surely face retribution.
Standard kanji spelling for this yojijukugo.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; 覿面 is sometimes written in kana for readability.
因果応報 is a broader Buddhist concept of karmic retribution, while 天罰覿面 specifically emphasizes the swiftness and certainty of punishment from heaven.
A yojijukugo composed of 天罰 (divine punishment) and 覿面 (immediate, manifest). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it reflects a traditional belief in swift heavenly retribution.