衛星

• Reading: えいせい
• Romaji: eisei
• Kanji breakdown: 衛 (ei) — guard, protect; 星 (sei) — star
• Pronunciation: /e.i.se.i/

Meaning

Satellite. Refers to both natural satellites (moons) and artificial satellites orbiting a planet.

A noun used in scientific and technological contexts. 人工衛星 (jinkou eisei) means 'artificial satellite,' while 衛星放送 (eisei housou) means 'satellite broadcasting.' The word is common in news, science discussions, and everyday references to satellite TV or GPS.

Examples

1. 日本は新しい人工衛星を打ち上げた。 Japan launched a new artificial satellite.
2. 衛星放送でサッカーの試合を見た。 I watched a soccer match on satellite TV.
3. 月は地球の衛星です。 The moon is Earth's satellite.

Usage Guide

Context: science, technology, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 衛 (guard, protect) and 星 (star). The original meaning was 'a star that guards' — referring to a celestial body that orbits and accompanies a larger one.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal