How to say "heaven" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

天国てんごくJLPT N1approx.Common
nounHeaven as paradise or the blissful afterlife, including the Christian Kingdom of Heaven; it can also describe any place or state of perfect happiness. This is the word for 'going to heaven' after death.
結婚けっこん生活せいかつは夫婦仲ふうふなかが良よければ天国てんごくであり、夫婦仲ふうふなかが悪わるければこの世よの地獄じごくである。↗
Marriage, in peace, is this world's paradise; in strife, this life's purgatory.
雲の上くものうえCommon
expression, nounLiterally 'above the clouds': the physical region above the clouds, or the sky. As 'heaven' it is a literal, spatial expression, and it is seldom the word you want for the afterlife; use 天国 there.
月つきが雲くもの上うえに出でた。↗
The moon rose above the clouds.
天てんCommon
nounThe heavens or the sky — heaven as the realm above, contrasted with the earth. It does not by itself mean the paradise of the afterlife; for that sense 天国 is the word.
縁組えんぐみは天てんでなされる。↗
Marriage is made in heaven.

Use 天国 for heaven as the afterlife or paradise; 「雲の上」 literally means the region above the clouds and is seldom the afterlife word; 天 refers to the heavens or sky rather than paradise.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

天国てんごくparadise
雲の上くものうえabove the clouds
ヘブンheaven
天堂てんどうheaven
上界じょうかいupper world
天上界てんじょうかいcelestial world
皇天こうてんprovidence
天てんheaven
天上てんじょうheaven
帝京ていきょうheaven
神の国かみのくにHeaven
お天道様おてんとさまprovidence
優勝ゆうしょう(being in) heaven

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