Chinese word

太空

Pronunciation

Pinyintài kōng

Meaning

  • nounspace

Example

太空中有很多未知的东西。tài kōng zhōng yǒu hěn duō wèi zhī de dōng xī

There are many unknown things in space.

Illustration for 太空 (space)

More examples

科学家用望远镜观测太空的变化。kē xué jiā yòng wàng yuǎn jìng guān cè tài kōng de biàn huà

Scientists use telescopes to observe changes in space.

Core concept

A seemingly boundless region outside the air surrounding Earth.

Common phrases

  • 飞向太空fēi xiàng tài kōng

    fly into space

  • 探索太空tàn suǒ tài kōng

    explore space

  • 在太空zài tài kōng

    in space

Similar words

宇宙yǔ zhòu: The whole universe, including all celestial bodies, space, and time.
空间kōng jiān: The extent or area where people and things can exist or move.
天空tiān kōng: The sky above the ground, where clouds and birds can be seen.

Definition in Chinese

指地球大气层之外的空旷空间，多用于表示外层空间或宇宙空间。zhǐ dì qiú dà qì céng zhī wài de kōng kuàng kōng jiān duō yòng yú biǎo shì wài céng kōng jiān huò yǔ zhòu kōng jiān

Word origin

太 (tài, "great") + 空 (kōng, "sky; space") combines vastness with the open sky to name the immense region outside Earth's atmosphere.

Usage tips

  • This word often helps decode longer terms about space travel, because it appears at the start of compounds naming people, vehicles, and facilities connected with space exploration.

Other meanings

  • outer spacenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 太空服tài kōng fúspacesuitnoun
  • 太空望远镜tài kōng wàng yuǎn jìngspace telescopenoun

Word lists with this word