天空

• Pinyin: tiān kōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 天 = 一 (one) + 大 (big), the great expanse above; 空 = 穴 (hole/cave) + 工 (work), meaning empty space

Meaning

Sky; the expanse above the earth visible from the ground.

A slightly more literary term than just 天 for referring to the sky. Often used in descriptive, poetic, or emotional contexts. Common collocations: 蓝色的天空 (blue sky), 天空中 (in the sky).

Examples

1. 今天的天空特别蓝。 The sky is especially blue today.
2. 几只小鸟在天空中飞来飞去。 Several small birds are flying back and forth in the sky.
3. 晚上的天空布满了星星。 The night sky is covered with stars.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, weather, descriptive

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 天空中飘着几朵白云。(A few white clouds are floating in the sky.)
• 雨后的天空出现了彩虹。(A rainbow appeared in the sky after the rain.)

Don't Say

• 天空下雨了。(Don't use 天空 as the subject of weather actions — use 天 instead. Say 天下雨了, not 天空下雨了.)

Origin & History

天 (sky/heaven) + 空 (empty/space). Together they emphasise the vast, open expanse of the sky.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal