天てん王のう山ざん

also: てんおうざん

て

ん

の

う

ざ

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

decisive point; turning point; watershed moment

Metaphorical use derived from the historical Battle of Yamazaki (1582), where Mount Tennōzan was the strategic key. Used for a critical juncture in a competition, project, or series of events.

この試し合あいが優ゆう勝しょうへの天てん王のう山ざんだ。

This match is the decisive point on the way to the championship.

プロジェクトの天てん王のう山ざんは来らい月げつのプレゼンだ。

The watershed moment for the project is next month's presentation.

Kanji

天heavens, sky, imperial
王king, rule, magnate
山mountain

Related words

関ヶ原せきがはら
Both 関ヶ原 and 天王山 are historical battle sites whose names are used figuratively for a make-or-break contest, though 天王山 leans toward a critical turning point still ahead while 関ヶ原 often frames the climactic showdown itself.

Built from

天てん王のう+山さん

Written forms

天王山
- てんのうざん
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading てんのうざん is the most common.
- てんおうざん
  Alternate reading, less common; may appear in historical or local contexts.
てんおうざん

Etymology

Originally the name of Mount Tennōzan in Kyoto, the site of the decisive Battle of Yamazaki in 1582. The mountain's strategic importance gave rise to the figurative meaning of a crucial turning point.