天空

tiān kōng
nounBeginner
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.

Collocations

天空中的云clouds in the sky天空的颜色color of the sky天空飞翔to soar in the sky

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

天高云淡idiom
the sky is high and the clouds are light (idiom for a peaceful and clear situation)
一望无际的天空phrase
a boundless sky

💡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

sky or heaven
root
+
empty or void
root
汉英词典