Japanese word

天然

Pronunciation

Romajitennen

Meaning

  • nounwild

Example

この魚は天然です。ko no sakana wa ten nen de su

This fish is wild.

Illustration for 天然 (wild)

More examples

この魚は天然なので、養殖魚より高価です。ko no sakana wa ten nen na no de yō shoku gyo yo ri kō ka de su

This fish is wild, so it costs more than farmed fish.

Core concept

Describes something that exists in nature rather than being made, grown, or raised by people.

Common phrases

  • 天然の魚ten nen no sakana

    wild fish

  • 天然ものten nen mo no

    wild-caught product

Similar words

野生yasei: The state of living in nature without being bred or raised by people.

Definition in Japanese

人の手で育てたり作ったりせず、自然のままに存在するもの。hito no te de soda te ta ri tsuku tta ri se zu shi zen no ma ma ni son zai su ru mo no

Word origin

天然 (tennen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 天 (ten, "heaven" or "nature") and 然 (nen, "so" or "in that state"), expressing what exists as it is in nature.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 天然 (tennen) often describes fish caught in the sea or rivers rather than fish raised on farms.

Other meanings

  • naturalnoun
  • naturenoun

Opposites

  • 養殖yōshokuaquaculturenoun

Word lists with this word