太阳

• Pinyin: tài yáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 太 = 大 (big) + 丶 (dot); 阳 = 阝(hill) + 日 (sun) + 一 — the sunny side of a hill

Meaning

Sun. The star at the centre of the solar system; also refers to sunlight in daily speech.

Refers to both the sun as a celestial body and to sunlight in everyday conversation. Common phrases include 太阳出来了 (the sun came out), 晒太阳 (to bask in the sun), and 太阳下山了 (the sun set). Also appears in compounds like 太阳镜 (sunglasses) and 太阳能 (solar energy).

Examples

1. 今天的太阳很大，出门要戴帽子。 The sun is very strong today, wear a hat when going out.
2. 太阳从东边升起来了。 The sun is rising from the east.
3. 爷爷喜欢在公园里晒太阳。 Grandpa likes to bask in the sun in the park.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, nature, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 太阳下山了，我们回家吧。(The sun has set, let's go home.)
• 今天出太阳了，天气真好。(The sun is out today, the weather is really nice.)

Don't Say

• 太阳很冷 (Don't say the sun is cold — 太阳 is inherently associated with warmth; say 今天没有太阳 to mean it's overcast)

Origin & History

太 (tài, great/supreme) + 阳 (yáng, bright/positive). In Chinese cosmology, the sun represents the ultimate yang force — the greatest source of light and warmth.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal