万物(ばんぶつ)

A literary and philosophical term meaning "all things in creation." Composed of 万(ばん) (ten thousand/myriad) + 物(ぶつ) (things). Used in elevated, poetic, or philosophical contexts rather than everyday speech.

Common collocations

• 万物(ばんぶつ)の霊長(れいちょう): the lord of all creation (i.e., humankind)
• 万物(ばんぶつ)の根源(こんげん): the origin of all things
• 万物(ばんぶつ)流転(るてん): all things are in flux (a Buddhist and philosophical concept)
• 万物(ばんぶつ)生(い)きとし生(い)けるもの: all living things

Similar words

• 森羅万象(しんらばんしょう): all things in nature; the whole universe — a more elaborate four-character idiom
• すべてのもの: everything — the plain everyday expression
• 万象(ばんしょう): all phenomena — similar literary register

Usage

The famous phrase 万物(ばんぶつ)の霊長(れいちょう) (literally "the most excellent spirit among all creation") is the traditional Japanese expression for "humanity as the supreme being in nature."