天狗(てんぐ)

てんぐ
noun
tengu, long-nosed goblin
1. tengu, long-nosed goblin
A mythical creature from Japanese folklore typically depicted with a long nose or a bird-like beak, often wearing the garb of a mountain priest (yamabushi). Associated with mountains and forests, they are skilled in martial arts and magic.
天狗(てんぐ)は山(やま)に住(す)む妖怪(ようかい)だ。
Tengu are supernatural creatures that live in the mountains.
天狗(てんぐ)の面(めん)をかぶって祭(まつ)りに参加(さんか)した。
I participated in the festival wearing a tengu mask.
2. conceited person, braggart
A person who is arrogant, boastful, or full of themselves. Derived from the tengu's association with pride.
あまり天狗(てんぐ)になるなよ。
Don't get too full of yourself.

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

  • 長(なが)い鼻(はな) (long nose) - most distinctive feature
  • 赤(あか)い顔(かお) (red face)
  • 羽(はね) (wings)
  • 羽団扇(はうちわ) (葉(は)団扇(うちわ)) (feather fan) - used to create wind
  • 山伏(やまぶし)の服装(ふくそう) (mountain ascetic clothing)
  • 一本歯(いっぽんば)の下駄(げた) (single-tooth geta sandals)

TYPES OF TENGU:

  • 大天狗(だいてんぐ) (greater tengu) - humanoid with long nose
  • 烏天狗(からすてんぐ) (crow tengu) - bird-beaked, smaller

FOLKLORE:

  • Skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship
  • Said to have taught 牛若丸(うしわかまる) (young Minamoto no Yoshitsune) sword skills
  • Associated with 修験道(しゅげんどう) (mountain asceticism)

IDIOMATIC USE:

  • 天狗(てんぐ)になる (to become conceited)
  • 鼻(はな)が高(たか)い (to be proud) - related expression

FAMOUS LOCATIONS:

  • 鞍馬山(くらまやま) (Mt. Kurama) in Kyoto - famous tengu legend site
  • 高尾山(たかおさん) (Mt. Takao) in Tokyo

Related Words

Related: 河童(かっぱ) (mythical creature)
general
Added 2026.1.18 8:07 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06522_tengu