1.
all things; all creation; everything in existence
All things in the universe or in nature. A literary and philosophical term referring to the entirety of creation.
万物の霊長である人間。
Humans, the supreme beings of all creation.
春になると万物が息を吹き返す。
When spring arrives, all things come back to life.
古代ギリシャの哲学者タレスは、万物の根源は水であると説いた。
The ancient Greek philosopher Thales taught that the origin of all things is water.
A literary and philosophical term meaning "all things in creation." Composed of 万 (ten thousand/myriad) + 物 (things). Used in elevated, poetic, or philosophical contexts rather than everyday speech.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 万物の霊長: the lord of all creation (i.e., humankind)
- 万物の根源: the origin of all things
- 万物流転: all things are in flux (a Buddhist and philosophical concept)
- 万物生きとし生けるもの: all living things
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 森羅万象: 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: all phenomena — similar literary register
NOTE:
The famous phrase 万物の霊長 (literally "the most excellent spirit among all creation") is the traditional Japanese expression for "humanity as the supreme being in nature."