天運(てんうん)

天(てん) (heaven) + 運(うん) (fortune, luck). A literary and somewhat formal word for fate or destiny as governed by heaven. Often used to express the idea that certain outcomes are beyond human control and must be accepted.

Common collocations

• 天運(てんうん)に恵(めぐ)まれる — be blessed by fortune
• 天運(てんうん)に任(まか)せる — leave to fate
• 天運(てんうん)を待(ま)つ — wait for fate to decide
• 天運(てんうん)が尽(つ)きる — one's fortune runs out

Similar words

• 運命(うんめい) — fate; destiny — the most common everyday word
• 天命(てんめい) — heavenly mandate; destiny — emphasizes a mission or duty given by heaven
• 宿命(しゅくめい) — fate; predestination — implies something determined before birth, inescapable