Looking up...
天空
tiān kōng
sky
天空中飘着几朵白云。
There are a few white clouds in the sky.
general
The atmosphere or expanse of space above the Earth, typically visible during the day and night.
夜晚，天空中闪烁着无数的星星。
At night, countless stars twinkle in the sky.
In Chinese, '天空' is often used to refer to the visible sky, while '天' alone can also mean 'sky' or 'heaven' in a more abstract sense.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'天空' is often used in everyday language to describe the sky, especially in poetic or descriptive contexts.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
While '天空' literally means 'the sky,' it can also be used metaphorically to describe vastness or freedom.
Word Origin
The term '天空' is composed of '天' (tiān, meaning 'sky' or 'heaven') and '空' (kōng, meaning 'empty' or 'void'). Together, they literally mean 'the empty sky' or 'the sky above.'
Usage Notes
'天空' is commonly used to describe the visible sky, while '天' alone can sometimes refer to a more abstract or religious concept of 'heaven.'
Word Breakdown
天
sky or heaven
root空
empty or void
root汉英词典