Meaning
天 is one of the most fundamental and ancient Chinese characters. Its primary meanings include the sky above us, heaven as a cosmic or spiritual realm, a single day in time, and weather conditions. It appears in countless compound words and expressions throughout Chinese.
Usage
天 is extremely common in everyday speech. When referring to days, it's often used with numbers (三天 = three days). When discussing weather, it appears in phrases like 天气 (weather). In more philosophical or religious contexts, it can mean heaven or the divine. It's also used in time expressions like 今天 (today) and 明天 (tomorrow).
Examples
- 01今天天气很好。.The weather is very nice today.
- 02我每天都学习中文。.I study Chinese every day.
Measure words
- 个三个天
Common collocations
- 每天every day
- 天天every single day
- 春天spring
- 白天daytime
Antonyms
Origin
Originally depicted as a human figure with a large head, emphasizing the space above a person. Over time it came to represent the sky, heaven, and the concept of day.