天上

• Pinyin: tiān shàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 天 = 一 (one) + 大 (big) — the great expanse above; 上 = indicates upper position

Meaning

In the sky; up in the sky. Refers to the space above, including the sky and heavens.

Used to describe anything located in the sky — clouds, sun, moon, stars, birds, planes. Often appears in contrast with 地上 (on the ground). Also used figuratively in phrases like 天上掉馅饼 (a pie falls from the sky, meaning an unexpected windfall).

Examples

1. 天上有很多星星。 There are many stars in the sky.
2. 一只小鸟在天上飞。 A little bird is flying in the sky.
3. 天上的云像棉花一样白。 The clouds in the sky are as white as cotton.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, everyday, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 天上的月亮真圆。(The moon in the sky is really round.)
• 小鸟在天上飞来飞去。(Birds are flying back and forth in the sky.)

Don't Say

• 天上有很多飞机场 (Don't place ground-based facilities in the sky — 天上 refers to the open sky, not locations that are merely at a height)

Origin & History

天 (tiān, sky/heaven) + 上 (shàng, above/on). A straightforward directional compound indicating the space above.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal