天の下

Japanese

Kanji in this term
天	下
あめ Grade: 1	した Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Etymology

Compound of 天 (ame, “heaven, heavens”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 下 (shita, “under, beneath”).

Arose as the native Japanese kun'yomi for Middle Chinese compound 天下 (*ten *ha). Compare also Japanese 天下 (​tenka), modern Mandarin 天下 (tiānxià).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a̠me̞ no̞ ɕi̥ta̠]

Noun

天(あめ)の下(した) • (ame no shita) 

1. the whole world, under heaven
2. the people of the country or nation
3. the imperial court
4. the administration, the government
5. all of Japan

Idioms

Idioms

• 天の下知らしめす (あめのしたしらしめす, ​ame no shita shirashimesu): “to make oneself [one's orders] known throughout the lands under heaven” → to control all of Japan, to reign supreme
• 天の下知ろしめす (あめのしたしろしめす, ​ame no shita shiroshimesu): “to make oneself [one's orders] known throughout the lands under heaven” → to control all of Japan, to reign supreme
• 天の下知らす (あめのしたしらす, ​ame no shita shirasu): “to make oneself [one's orders] known throughout the lands under heaven” → to control all of Japan, to reign supreme
• 天の下知ろす (あめのしたしろす, ​ame no shita shirosu): “to make oneself [one's orders] known throughout the lands under heaven” → to control all of Japan, to reign supreme
• 天の下申す (あめのしたもうす, ​ame no shita mōsu): “to speak to the lands under heaven” → to govern in the emperor's stead, as a minister or other official acting in an official capacity

Synonyms

• 天下 (てんか, ​tenka)
• 天が下 (あめがした, ​ame ga shita)