天罰(てんばつ)

てんばつ
noun
divine punishment; heavenly retribution
1. divine punishment; heavenly retribution
Punishment from heaven or the gods for wrongdoing. Used both literally in religious/traditional contexts and figuratively to express that someone deserved their misfortune.
天罰(てんばつ)が下(くだ)る。
Divine punishment descends.
あんなことをしたら天罰(てんばつ)が当(あ)たるよ。
If you do something like that, you'll be punished by heaven.
悪事(あくじ)を重(かさ)ねた結果(けっか)、天罰(てんばつ)を受(う)けたのだと人々(ひとびと)は噂(うわさ)した。
People whispered that it was divine punishment for all the evil deeds committed.

Composed of 天(てん) (heaven) + 罰(ばつ) (punishment). Expresses the idea that wrongdoers will eventually face retribution from a higher power. In modern usage, it is often used semi-figuratively to mean "serves them right" or to warn someone that their bad behavior will catch up with them.

Common collocations

  • 天罰(てんばつ)が下(くだ)る — divine punishment descends
  • 天罰(てんばつ)が当(あ)たる — to be struck by divine punishment
  • 天罰(てんばつ)を受(う)ける — to receive divine punishment
  • 天罰(てんばつ)てきめん — swift and sure divine retribution

Similar words

  • 罰(ばつ) — punishment; general term, not necessarily divine
  • 報(むく)い — retribution, karma; consequence of one's actions, without the "heavenly" connotation
  • 天誅(てんちゅう) — divine retribution; stronger, more archaic, historically used to justify executing wrongdoers

Related Words

Compare: 報(むく)い (retribution, karma)
Compare: 祟(たた)り (curse)
general
Added 2026.3.26 10:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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