天命|てんめいtenmei[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounGod's will; heaven's decree; mandate of Heaven; fate; karma; destiny
   人事じんじを尽つくして天命てんめいを待まつ。↗

   Man proposes, God disposes.
2. nounone's life; one's lifespan

• Synonym因縁いんねんNeutralNeutral. Covers fate and karmic ties, but also picking a quarrel, as in 「因縁をつける」.
• Synonym運命うんめいNeutralNeutral and the most general word for fate; 「天命」 adds the solemn nuance of a mandate bestowed by Heaven.
• Synonym宿命しゅくめいNeutralNeutral. Stresses a destiny fixed before birth that cannot be changed.
• Synonym命運めいうんWrittenWritten. Fate on which survival hinges, as in 「国の命運」.
• Synonym天意てんいWrittenWritten. Refers to the will of Heaven, stressing divine intent; 「天命」 also covers one's lifespan and Heaven-given mission.
• Related定めさだめNeutralNeutral and fairly colloquial. Means what is destined, but also rules and provisions; carries a fatalistic coloring.
• Related天運てんうんWrittenWritten. Heaven-granted luck or fortune; also an astronomy term for celestial motion. Used rarely.
• Related宿縁しゅくえんWrittenWritten. Karma or bonds carried over from a previous life; carries a strong Buddhist flavor.
• Antonym人為じんいWrittenWritten. Human effort or agency; the direct opposite of 「天命」.

For fate in general use 「運命」, and for a predestined, unchangeable lot 「宿命」. Use 「天命」 for a mission or lifespan granted by Heaven, as in 「人事を尽くして天命を待つ」 and 「天命を全うする」; for human agency, say 「人為」.

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

1. 天てんから与あたえられた命令めいれい。
2. 変かえることのできない運命うんめい。
3. 天てんが定さだめた寿命じゅみょう。