太空

• Pinyin: tài kōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 太 = 大 (big) + 丶 (dot), very/extreme; 空 = 穴 (cave) + 工 (work), empty/sky

Meaning

Outer space; the cosmos beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Refers to the space beyond Earth's atmosphere where stars, planets, and galaxies exist. Common in scientific, educational, and news contexts about space exploration. Compounds include 太空人 (astronaut, used in HK/Taiwan), 太空船 (spaceship), 太空站 (space station).

Examples

1. 中国的航天员已经多次成功进入太空执行任务。 Chinese astronauts have successfully entered space multiple times to carry out missions.
2. 在太空中看地球一定是非常震撼的体验。 Seeing Earth from space must be an incredibly awe-inspiring experience.
3. 太空探索技术的发展改变了人类对宇宙的认知。 The development of space exploration technology has changed humanity's understanding of the universe.

Usage Guide

Context: science, news, education

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 他梦想去太空旅行。(He dreams of traveling to space.)
• 太空站在轨道上运行。(The space station operates in orbit.)

Don't Say

• 飞机飞到太空 — planes fly in the atmosphere (大气层), not in outer space; use 宇宙飞船 or 火箭 for space travel

Origin & History

Compound of 太 (great/extreme) + 空 (empty/sky), literally 'the great void' — poetically describing the vastness of space.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal