Japanese word

天文

Pronunciation

Romajitenmon

Meaning

  • nounastronomy

Example

子どものころから天文に興味があります。ko do mo no ko ro ka ra ten mon ni kyō mi ga a ri ma su

I have been interested in astronomy since I was a child.

Illustration for 天文 (astronomy)

More examples

私は図書館で天文の本を何冊も借りています。watashi wa to sho kan de ten mon no hon o nan satsu mo ka ri te i ma su

I borrow several books on astronomy from the library.

Core concept

Centers on observing celestial bodies and phenomena and explaining the order and workings of the universe.

Common phrases

  • 天文に興味があるten mon ni kyō mi ga a ru

    be interested in astronomy

  • 天文を学ぶten mon o mana bu

    study astronomy

  • 天文の知識ten mon no chi shiki

    knowledge of astronomy

Similar words

天文学tenmongaku: The formal academic field that studies celestial bodies, space, and the workings of the universe.

Definition in Japanese

太陽や星などの天体と、宇宙で起こる現象を研究する学問。tai yō ya hoshi na do no ten tai to u chū de o ko ru gen shō o ken kyū su ru gaku mon

Word origin

天文 (tenmon) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 天 (ten, "heaven") and 文 (mon, "pattern"), a combination that originally evokes the patterns of the heavens.

Usage tips

  • The English distinction between astronomy and astrology gives 天文 (tenmon) a useful scientific association: astronomy concerns the universe, not predictions based on stars.

Related words

  • 天文学tenmongakuastronomynoun
  • 天文学者tenmongakushaastronomernoun
  • 天文学的tenmongakutekiastronomicalna-adjective

Word lists with this word