宇宙

• Reading: うちゅう
• Romaji: uchuu
• Kanji breakdown: 宇 (u) — roof, universe, space; 宙 (chū) — mid-air, space
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.tɕɯː/

Meaning

Universe; cosmos; outer space. The vast expanse beyond Earth's atmosphere.

A noun encompassing both the physical universe and outer space. Common in compounds like 宇宙飛行士 (uchū hikōshi, astronaut), 宇宙船 (uchūsen, spaceship), and 宇宙ステーション (space station). Used in both scientific and everyday contexts. Japan's space agency JAXA has an active space programme, making space-related vocabulary common in news and education.

Examples

1. 宇宙にはまだ知らないことがたくさんある。 There are still so many things we don't know about the universe.
2. 子供のころ宇宙飛行士になりたかった。 When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut.
3. 宇宙から見た地球はとても美しいそうだ。 I hear that the Earth looks incredibly beautiful from space.

Usage Guide

Context: science, education, dreams and aspirations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 宇 (roof, eaves, universe) and 宙 (space, mid-air). Together they express the boundless expanse of all existence — 宇 originally meant spatial extent and 宙 meant temporal extent.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal