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.

鞍馬山(くらまやま)は天狗(てんぐ)の伝説(でんせつ)で有名(ゆうめい)だ。

Mt. Kurama is famous for its tengu legends.

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.

テストでいい点(てん)を取(と)ったからって天狗(てんぐ)になってはいけない。

Just because you got a good score on the test doesn't mean you should get conceited.

少(すこ)し褒(ほ)められただけで天狗(てんぐ)になる人(ひと)がいる。

Some people get a big head just from being praised a little.

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 2026.7.18 0:25

06500/06522_tengu