<p>These organisms are categorized as <strong><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BD%BF%E5%BE%92_(%E6%96%B0%E4%B8%96%E7%B4%80%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B2%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3)">「使徒」</a>(<em>shito</em>) meaning "apostle"</strong> in <a href="http://note.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/detail/n157538">Japanese sources</a>. <em>Shito</em> is the word used in the Japanese translation of the Christian Bible to refer to people who possess the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift#Descriptions">spiritual gift of Apostle</a> (this differs from the word used to describe all of Jesus' followers, which is 「弟子」 [<em>deshi</em>], the same word used for disciples of Confucius and other renowned historical figures).</p>

<p>Curiously, according to <a href="http://evangelion.wikia.com/wiki/Angel#cite_note-6">Evangelion Wiki</a>,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The collective grouping has no unique canonical name, although the phrase "Adam's children" was used by Misato in a preliminary draft for Episode 25'</p>
</blockquote>

<p>written as <a href="http://evangelion.wikia.com/wiki/Angel#Adam.27s_Children">「アダムの子供達」</a> (<em>Adamu no Kodomotachi</em>), meaning "children of Adam."</p>

<p>According to <a href="http://wiki.evageeks.org/Angels#Translation">evageeks.org</a>,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>the word "Angel" was retained in the English version of the show at the request of the show's Japanese creators</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but they provide no citation for this claim. They note that in <a href="http://wiki.evageeks.org/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion_Proposal#Apostolos">an early proposal pitch</a>, the word 「アポストロ」(<em>aposutoro</em>) was suggested.</p>

<p>While apostles are clearly human whereas angels are supernatural, the word "apostle" is derived from the Greek word <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_(Christian)#Background">ἀπόστολος (<em>apóstolos</em>)</a> which means "messenger" (broken apart is "from" + "I send"). The Japanese「使徒」(<em>shito</em>) broken apart is "messenger" + "person" (same <em>kanji</em> as「使う」[<em>tsukau</em>] meaning "use" or "speak"). The special ability of Apostle allows the wielder to go to a new place, preach the Good News there, and plant new church communities with more ease than another disciple who doesn't possess that gifting would be able to do. The English word "angel" is derived from the Greek <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel#Etymology">ἄγγελος (<em>ángelos</em>)</a> meaning "messenger." As you note, the Japanese 「天使」(<em>tenshi</em>) is literally "heaven" + "messenger." So etymologically we see that the Japanese words「使徒」and 「天使」 both show the idea of sent-ness for the purpose of delivering a message.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-29T07:24:54.607Z
"Angel" appears on-screen in the eyecatches (like in the opening) as well as monitors/displays and things. This is the case of the original Japanese version going all the way to the TV broadcast. They had already given them an English name right from the start.
Jon Lin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-29T07:38:28.837Z
True, and the naming strategy for many of the _shito_'s personal names indicate that the creators had Judeo-Christian angels in mind from the start. However, the Japanese fans don’t refer to them as _tenshi_, _mitsukai_, or _enjeru_, the Japanese words for “angel.”
seijitsu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-29T06:54:31.843Z
2015-08-29T07:29:10.737Z
2015-08-29T07:29:10.737Z
seijitsu
<p>The entities attacking Nerv and attempting to reach Lilith are universally referred to as "Angels" in the English dubs, subs and translations of the NGE manga. </p>

<p>In Japanese, the opening song ("Cruel Angel's Thesis") does refer to <em>tenshi</em> (天使) which translates smoothly into "angel" in English (literally "heavenly messenger"), however this term does not seem to appear in the TV series, EoE, Rebuild movies or manga. So what Japanese term(s) are used to describe them, what do they mean, and why were they translated as "angels" for Anglo audiences? </p>

<japanese-language><neon-genesis-evangelion>
What are the "Angels" called in the original Japanese version?
# What are the "Angels" called in the original Japanese version?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-08-29
The entities attacking Nerv and attempting to reach Lilith are universally referred to as "Angels" in the English dubs, subs and translations of the NGE manga.

In Japanese, the opening song ("Cruel Angel's Thesis") does refer to *tenshi* (天使) which translates smoothly into "angel" in English (literally "heavenly messenger"), however this term does not seem to appear in the TV series, EoE, Rebuild movies or manga. So what Japanese term(s) are used to describe them, what do they mean, and why were they translated as "angels" for Anglo audiences?
**Tags:** japanese-language neon-genesis-evangelion
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-29. Score: 14
These organisms are categorized as **[「使徒」](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BD%BF%E5%BE%92_(%E6%96%B0%E4%B8%96%E7%B4%80%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B2%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%B3))(*shito*) meaning "apostle"** in [Japanese sources](http://note.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/detail/n157538). *Shito* is the word used in the Japanese translation of the Christian Bible to refer to people who possess the [spiritual gift of Apostle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift#Descriptions) (this differs from the word used to describe all of Jesus' followers, which is 「弟子」 [*deshi*], the same word used for disciples of Confucius and other renowned historical figures).

Curiously, according to [Evangelion Wiki](http://evangelion.wikia.com/wiki/Angel#cite_note-6),

> The collective grouping has no unique canonical name, although the phrase "Adam's children" was used by Misato in a preliminary draft for Episode 25'

written as [「アダムの子供達」](http://evangelion.wikia.com/wiki/Angel#Adam.27s_Children) (*Adamu no Kodomotachi*), meaning "children of Adam."

According to [evageeks.org](http://wiki.evageeks.org/Angels#Translation),

> the word "Angel" was retained in the English version of the show at the request of the show's Japanese creators

but they provide no citation for this claim. They note that in [an early proposal pitch](http://wiki.evageeks.org/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion_Proposal#Apostolos), the word 「アポストロ」(*aposutoro*) was suggested.

While apostles are clearly human whereas angels are supernatural, the word "apostle" is derived from the Greek word [ἀπόστολος (*apóstolos*)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_(Christian)#Background) which means "messenger" (broken apart is "from" + "I send"). The Japanese「使徒」(*shito*) broken apart is "messenger" + "person" (same *kanji* as「使う」[*tsukau*] meaning "use" or "speak"). The special ability of Apostle allows the wielder to go to a new place, preach the Good News there, and plant new church communities with more ease than another disciple who doesn't possess that gifting would be able to do. The English word "angel" is derived from the Greek [ἄγγελος (*ángelos*)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel#Etymology) meaning "messenger." As you note, the Japanese 「天使」(*tenshi*) is literally "heaven" + "messenger." So etymologically we see that the Japanese words「使徒」and 「天使」 both show the idea of sent-ness for the purpose of delivering a message.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2015-08-29): "Angel" appears on-screen in the eyecatches (like in the opening) as well as monitors/displays and things. This is the case of the original Japanese version going all the way to the TV broadcast. They had already given them an English name right from the start.  
> **username_1** (2015-08-29): True, and the naming strategy for many of the _shito_'s personal names indicate that the creators had Judeo-Christian angels in mind from the start. However, the Japanese fans don’t refer to them as _tenshi_, _mitsukai_, or _enjeru_, the Japanese words for “angel.”  
---
