天国

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 天国, read てんごく, means heaven or a place that feels wonderfully pleasant.
• Basic usage: It expresses a belief that someone who has died watches over the family, or describes a place that is ideal for someone.
  • 静かな浜辺は読書好きの私には天国だ。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Belief and figurative use
  • 私には天国だ figuratively says that the place is wonderful for the speaker. This differs from uses referring to a belief about the afterlife.