小こ天てん狗ぐ

noun

small tengu

A lesser tengu, a mythical creature from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a crow-like goblin. Contrasts with the more powerful 大天狗.

See also: 天狗

• 小こ天てん狗ぐは、大だい天てん狗ぐに比くらべて力ちからが弱よわいとされる。

  Small tengu are said to be less powerful than great tengu.

noun

promising young martial artist

Idiomatic, figurative use likening a talented young martial arts practitioner to a small tengu. Often used in historical or period contexts.

• 彼かれは若わかいながらも剣けんの腕うでが立たち、道どう場じょうでは小こ天てん狗ぐと呼よばれていた。

  Despite his youth, he was skilled with the sword and was called a 'small tengu' at the dojo.