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天顔 (てんがん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

天てん顔がん

て

ん

が

ん

Meanings

1

noun

emperor's countenance; imperial visage

Formal, respectful term used in historical or court contexts to refer to the emperor's face or presence. Not used in everyday conversation.

拝はい謁えつの際さい、天てん顔がんを拝はいした。
At the audience, I beheld the emperor's countenance.

Kanji

天heavens, sky, imperial
顔face, expression

Similar words

龍りゅう顔がん
Also a formal term for the emperor's face, but uses the dragon metaphor. 天顔 is more direct, using 'heaven'.
御お顔かお
A general honorific for someone's face, not limited to the emperor. 天顔 is specifically imperial and much more formal.

Etymology

Compound of 天 (heaven, imperial) and 顔 (face). A Sino-Japanese term used in classical and formal writing to refer to the emperor's face.