Chinese word

天上

Pronunciation

Pinyintiān shàng

Meaning

  • nounsky

Example

天上有很多星星。tiān shàng yǒu hěn duō xīng xīng

There are many stars in the sky.

Illustration for 天上 (sky)

More examples

飞机在天上飞过。fēi jī zài tiān shàng fēi guò

A plane flew through the sky.

Core concept

The high open space above the ground, where the sun, moon, clouds, and stars appear.

Common phrases

  • 在天上zài tiān shàng

    in the sky

  • 天上的星星tiān shàng de xīng xīng

    the stars in the sky

Similar words

天空tiān kōng: The broad expanse of sky, including its blue space and clouds.
上空shàng kōng: The part of the sky directly above a particular place.
空中kōng zhōng: The space above the ground where things fly or exist.

Definition in Chinese

表示位于天空之上或空中的高处。biǎo shì wèi yú tiān kōng zhī shàng huò kōng zhōng de gāo chù

Word origin

天 (tiān, "sky") + 上 (shàng, "above") forms 天上 (tiānshàng, "sky above"), a direct description of the space overhead.

Usage tips

  • This word can describe ordinary stars, clouds, or birds, so it does not automatically create a religious or magical meaning.

Other meanings

  • the heavensnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word