Meaning
天河 literally means 'heavenly river' and refers to the Milky Way galaxy. In Chinese mythology and classical literature, it represents the bright band of stars stretching across the night sky, which ancient Chinese people imagined as a river in the heavens. It's also famously featured in the legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, separated by this celestial river.
Usage
天河 is a somewhat literary or poetic term for the Milky Way. In modern everyday speech, people more commonly say 银河 (yín hé) for 'Milky Way.' 天河 appears more frequently in classical literature, poetry, and romantic contexts. It's also used as a place name in various Chinese cities, such as Tianhe District in Guangzhou.
Examples
- 01牛郎织女被天河分隔两岸，一年只能见一次面。, .The Cowherd and Weaver Girl are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year.
- 02夜晚抬头仰望，能看到璀璨的天河横贯夜空。, .Looking up at night, you can see the brilliant Milky Way stretching across the sky.
Characters
Measure words
- 条一条天河
Common collocations
- 天河区Tianhe District (place name)
- 横跨天河to span across the Milky Way
Origin
The term combines 天 (heaven/sky) and 河 (river), reflecting ancient Chinese astronomers' observation that the Milky Way resembles a luminous river flowing across the heavens. This imagery dates back thousands of years in Chinese literature and mythology.