てっぺん

also: てへん · てっぺい

て

っ

ぺ

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

usually written using kana alone

General word for the highest point of something, such as a mountain, building, or hierarchy.

会かい社しゃのてっぺんに立たつのは大たい変へんだ。

It's tough to be at the top of a company.

2

noun

usually written using kana aloneslang

Only with reading てっぺん

Slang for midnight, often in the phrase てっぺんを回る (past midnight).

3

noun

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to the top of the head or helmet; 頂辺 is sometimes used for this sense.

てっぺんUsage86%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 天辺 and 頂辺 are less common.
天辺Usage10%
- てっぺん
  Kanji form, but kana is preferred in modern usage.
- てっぺい
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading of 天辺; not used in modern Japanese.
- てへん
  out-dated reading
テッペンUsage3%
頂辺Usage1%
- てっぺん
  Rare kanji form, sometimes used for the top of the head or helmet.
- てへん
  out-dated reading
てへん
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana form; not used in modern Japanese.
てっぺい
out-dated reading

頂ちょう上じょう
More formal word for summit or peak, often used for mountains.
真ま夜よ中なか
Standard word for midnight; てっぺん is slangy and often implies late-night activities.

Derived from 頂 (いただき) with sound changes; the exact derivation is uncertain.