The idea of “the angel” is aesthetically connected to Christian imagery. Angels and Christian religious symbols also are popular themes in Japanese comics (manga), often intermingled with Buddhist or Shinto symbology! 

Manga like Kamikaze Kaitō Jeanne (KKJ) provides an essential insight into the conceptualization of angels in Japan. As depicted in KKJ, angels are the ”Other”, the mysterious, serene ones. Simultaneously angels are depicted as part of the circle of life every creature undergoes in Buddhist cosmology. 

What is the word for “angel” in Japanese?

The most commonly used word for “Angel” in Japanese is Tenshi (天使). The first kanji character in the word is the Japanese symbol for heaven or Ten (天) and the second symbol (使) has the meaning of “messenger” or “envoy”. Together, the symbols means a special messenger or envoy from the heavens. Angels are widely known to be bearers of good news from heaven in most films, even in Japanese anime and manga. This is also heavily reflected in Japanese symbols or characters.

How is the word for “angel” pronounced in Japanese?

Tenshi (天使) is pronounced “ten-shi”, with the “ten” part being pronounced in a similar way to the English number “ten” and the “Shi” sounding like the “shi” as it would be pronounced in the word “shivers”

Historical forms of the chinese character for “Angel”

A top line represents the level above a man with outstretched arms (大 (dà)). What is above man? Heaven, of course!

Ancient representations of the character actually depicted a man with a large head. This is an intriguingly more anthropomorphic representation of heaven, where heaven exists as a state of altered or expanded consciousness. In this interpretation, heaven is not so much a place out there as a “state of mind”, as symbolzed by the engorged head!

The character also has the related meaning of “sky”. Words like “sky” are obviously difficult concepts to depict in a pictogram, so you can see how some ingenuity was called for in achieving the current form. Perhaps influenced by the glyph, the character was frequently interchanged in Old Chinese documents with 顛 (“crown of the head”),. This led to one hypotheses in which 天 (tiān) is a derivation of 顛 or 巔, “top (of the head/hill)”.

How is “Angel” expressed in Chinese?

Angel is expressed as Tiānshǐ (天使) in Chinese writing. The Japanese and Chinese symbol for angel is the same but the pronunciation differs. This is one of those words that was originally used by the Chinese but later on derived. And with each passing era, developed into a more Japanese pronunciation. 

The different ways “Angel” can be expressed in Japanese characters and symbols

1. 天使(Tenshi)

Tenshi is the most common symbol for angel in Japanese. 

Example sentences:

あの看護婦さんは患者にはまさに天使だ。

Ano kangofu san wa kanja ni wa masa ni tenshi da.

That nurse is a real angel to her patients.

人間同士が戦うところを天使が空から眺めている。

Ningen doushi ga tatau tokoro wo tenshi ga sora kara nagamete iru.

Angels watch from above as men fight amongst themselves.

2. エンジェル(Enjeru)

Enjeru is written in one of the basic japanese writing called Katakana. Katakana can be used if the word you are using does not have a direct translation to the Japanese language (loanwords), or if you want to simply emphasize what you want to write. Enjeru is usually used as a name, or a place rather than angel with wings and white robe.

Example sentences:

エンジェルがトラヴィスに遭遇した？

enjeru ga toravisu ni souguu shi ta?

You think Angel ran into Travis

エンジェル・シティの　あの死体を見つけた

enjeru・ shiti no ano shitai wo mitsuke ta

Got a hit on our dead guy from Angel City.

これがヒューマン・エンジェルのはたらきです。

kore ga, hyūman・ enjeru no hataraki desu.

This is the work of a Human Angel.

3. 守護天使(Shugotenshi)

Shugotenshi means guardian angel. The first symbol means protect or pronounced alone as mamori (守り) and the second symbol also means protect or safeguard (護る, mamoru).

Example sentences:

彼は本当に守護天使だわ。

Kare wa honto ni shugotenshi da wa.

He really is a guardian angel.

昨日の夜は確かに守護天使は私の命を狼から助けてくれたんだ。

Kinou no yoru wa tashika ni shugotenshi wa watashi no inochi wo ookami kara tasukete kuretanda.

Last night my guardian angel did indeed save my life from the wolf.

4. み使い(Mitsukai)

Mitsukai is a word that means a messenger, and in Christianity the messenger of the Lord . Some Japanese translations of the Bible have adopted this term, and here they describe theological angels in line with Christian doctrines, doctrines, creeds, and catechisms.

Example sentences:

今日でも多くの人たちがそれとは気付かずに、み使いに出会ったり見たりしてきたことは大いに可能なことです。

kyou demo ouku no hito tachi ga sore to wa kizuka zu ni, mitsukai ni deattari mi tari shi te ki ta koto wa ouini kanou na koto desu.

It is quite possible that many people today have met or seen an angel without realizing it.

ある人達はみ使いだろうと提案しますが、そうではないようです。

aru hitotachi wa mitsukai daro u to teian shi masu ga, sō de wa nai yō desu.

It is unlikely that they are angelic beings, as some suggest.

What words are in the Japanese symbol for “angel” Used In?

1. 堕天使 (Datenshi)

Datenshi means fallen angel, lucifer, demon or satan. The first symbol means degenerate, or descend to, while the rest of the symbol means angel.

Example sentences:

堕天使を思わせる風貌。

Datenshi wo omowa seru fuubou.

A fallen angel figure.

2. 白衣の天使(Hakui no tenshi)

Means nurse or angel in white. This is a reference to hospitals, a place where people often experience suffering. Nurses are often the ones hands-on helping those in need. The first symbol means white and is pronounced as Shiro or Haku(白). While the second symbol means garment and is pronounced as Koromo or I (衣).

Example sentences:

白衣天使は何でもできる天使なんだ。

Hakuitenshi wa nandemo dekiru tenshi nan da.

Nurses are angels that can do anything.

私の奥さんは病院の白衣天使です。

Watashi no okusan wa byoin no hakuitenshi desu.

My wife is the hospital’s nurse.

3. 天使の輪(Tenshi no wa)

Tenshinowa means angel’s halo. The last symbol means ring, wheel, circle, or loop and is pronounced as wa (輪). 

Example sentence:

あの天使の輪がずいぶん似合っているじゃないか、フリーザ。

Tenshinowa ga zuibun niatte iru janai ka, freeza.

That angel’s halo suits you very well, frieza.

カラーした後もつやつやで天使の輪がほんとに髪にいいんだな~って実感しました。

Kara shita nochi mo tsuyatsuya de tenshi no wa ga hontoni kami ni ī nda na~tte jikkan shimashita.

Even after coloring, the hair is glossy and has an angel’s halo… I really felt that it was good for my hair.

Stroke order for writing the characters in Japanese “angel” and associated symbols.

1. 天使(Tenshi)

2. 守護天使(Shugotenshi)

3. 堕天使(Datenshi)

4. 白衣天使(HakuiTenshi)

5. 天使の輪(tenshi no wa)

So should you get “Angel” done as a tattoo in Japanese lettering?

It is highly recommended to research Japanese symbols or characters and their meanings compared to different languages like Chinese before deciding to ink. Despite practising Shinto and Buddhism, Christianity is still well-known in the culture of Japan. 

Angels are often seen in mainstream manga and anime as messengers of God, so they are certainly well-known by the younger generation, and anyone into comics. 

That being said, having angel as a tattoo, in either English or Japanese implies that you are saying that you, yourself, are an angel. And that is quite a statement to live up to!

Contributor

Article by John Salinas.

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