天: the kanji for heaven and sky
天 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means heaven, sky. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
天 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
天 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
テン (ten)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 天気てんき · tenki | weather |
| 天気予報てんきよほう · tenki yohō | weather forecast |
| 天国てんごく · tengoku | heaven |
| 天然てんねん · tennen | natural |
| 天井てんじょう · tenjō | ceiling |
| 雨天うてん · uten | rainy weather |
| 天才てんさい · tensai | genius |
| 天皇てんのう · tennō | the Emperor (of Japan) |
| 天ぷらてんぷら · tenpura | tempura |
あま (ama)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 天の川あまのがわ · Amanogawa | the Milky Way |
| 天下りあまくだり · amakudari | a retired official taking an industry job |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 明日の天気はどうですか。Ashita no tenki wa dō desu ka.What's the weather like tomorrow?
- 天気予報によると、午後は雨です。Tenki yohō ni yoru to, gogo wa ame desu.According to the weather forecast, it will rain in the afternoon.
- 雨天の場合、イベントは中止です。Uten no baai, ibento wa chūshi desu.The event will be canceled in case of rain.
- この会社は天然の素材を使っています。Kono kaisha wa tennen no sozai o tsukatte imasu.This company uses natural materials.
- 昼ご飯に天ぷらを食べました。Hirugohan ni tenpura o tabemashita.I had tempura for lunch.
- この部屋は天井が高いです。Kono heya wa tenjō ga takai desu.This room has a high ceiling.
Questions about 天
How many strokes does 天 have?
天 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 天?
The on readings are ten (テン). The kun readings are ame (あめ), ama (あま).
What does いい天気ですね mean?
いい天気ですね (ii tenki desu ne) means "Nice weather, isn't it?" It is a common way to start small talk.
What JLPT level is 天?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Places and directions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 天
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.