Tenjin; deified Sugawara no Michizane; Tenmangu shrine
Primarily refers to the deified spirit of Sugawara no Michizane, enshrined at Tenmangu shrines. Often used as a short name for the shrine itself.
天神様にお参りする。
I visit the Tenjin shrine to pray.
天神は学問の神様として知られている。
Tenjin is known as the god of learning.
dried plum pit; dried plum
Colloquial term for the pit of a dried plum (umeboshi), or sometimes the dried plum itself. Used in casual contexts.
See also: 梅干し
梅干しの天神を捨てる。
I throw away the pit of the dried plum.
tenjin hairstyle
Abbreviation of 天神髷, a traditional hairstyle. Rare standalone use; mostly encountered in historical or cultural contexts.
See also: 天神髷
天神髷は江戸時代の女性の髪型の一つで、略して天神とも呼ばれた。
The tenjin hairstyle was one of the women's hairstyles in the Edo period, sometimes abbreviated as tenjin.
second-highest class prostitute (Edo period)
Historical term for a rank of prostitute in the Edo period. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical references.
江戸時代の遊郭では、天神は高い位の遊女だった。
In the pleasure quarters of the Edo period, tenjin was a high-ranking courtesan.
Specialized term for the tuning pegs of traditional Japanese string instruments like the biwa or shamisen. Also written 転軫.
See also: 転軫
三味線の天神を回して調弦する。
I tune the shamisen by turning the tuning pegs.