Japanese meaning of 天下無双
Reading:
てんかむそう (tenka musou)
English Translation:
Second to none; peerless under heaven
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Peerless under heaven—unsurpassed excellence acknowledged broadly, sometimes with a flavor of bravado or legend.
天下に並ぶ者のない卓越。誇張・武勇伝風の気配を帯びることもある。
Cultural Context:
Popular in historical dramas, games, and martial narratives; can be used hyperbolically or tongue-in-cheek in modern marketing.
時代劇・ゲーム・武勇物で人気。現代の広告や会話では誇張や洒落を込めて使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “の” or “たる” to describe unmatched excellence (“天下無双の剣士”).
• Used in martial arts, gaming, or boasting.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken as just “very good,” but it implies absolute and unrivaled superiority.
Example
Basic Example
彼は天下無双の剣士として知られている。
He is known as a peerless swordsman.
Applied Example
その剣技は天下無双で、敵は一太刀も耐えられなかった。
His swordsmanship was unmatched under heaven — no enemy could withstand a single strike.