Chinese word

宇宙

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǔ zhòu

Meaning

  • noununiverse

Example

晚上我用望远镜看宇宙。wǎn shàng wǒ yòng wàng yuǎn jìng kàn yǔ zhòu

At night, I use a telescope to look at the universe.

Illustration for 宇宙 (universe)

More examples

人类希望通过新技术更深入地探索宇宙。rén lèi xī wàng tōng guò xīn jì shù gēng shēn rù dì tàn suǒ yǔ zhòu

Humanity hopes to explore the universe more deeply through new technology.

Core concept

The single cosmic whole in which all space, time, and celestial bodies exist.

Common phrases

  • 探索宇宙tàn suǒ yǔ zhòu

    explore the universe

  • 观测宇宙guān cè yǔ zhòu

    observe the universe

  • 宇宙飞船yǔ zhòu fēi chuán

    spacecraft

Similar words

太空tài kōng: The region beyond Earth's atmosphere, where spacecraft travel.
空间kōng jiān: The extent available for things to occupy or activities to take place.
天空tiān kōng: The part of the sky visible from the ground, including clouds and stars.

Definition in Chinese

宇宙指包含一切天体、空间与时间的整体时空体系。yǔ zhòu zhǐ bāo hán yí qiè tiān tǐ kōng jiān yǔ shí jiān de zhéng tǐ shí kōng tǐ xì

Word origin

宇宙 (yǔzhòu, "universe") combines 宇 (yǔ, "spatial extent") and 宙 (zhòu, "time"), linking where everything exists with the passage of time.

Usage tips

  • For everyday conversation, Chinese often uses 太空 (tàikōng, "outer space") for the region beyond Earth, while 宇宙 (yǔzhòu, "universe") names the wider cosmic whole.

Other meanings

  • outer spacenoun

Related words

  • 宇宙学yǔ zhòu xuécosmologynoun
  • 宇宙飞船yǔ zhòu fēi chuánspacecraftnoun

Word lists with this word