Meaning
宇宙 refers to the universe or cosmos—all of space, time, matter, and energy that exists. It encompasses everything from planets and stars to galaxies and beyond. The word combines two characters that originally referred to spatial and temporal dimensions.
Usage
Used in both scientific and philosophical contexts. Common in astronomy, physics discussions, and when talking about the vastness of space. Often appears in expressions about exploring or understanding the universe. The word carries both literal scientific meaning and metaphorical implications about infinity and the unknown.
Examples
- 01科学家们一直在研究宇宙的起源。.Scientists have been studying the origin of the universe.
- 02宇宙中有无数的星系和行星。.There are countless galaxies and planets in the universe.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个宇宙
Common collocations
- 宇宙飞船spaceship
- 探索宇宙to explore the universe
- 宇宙大爆炸Big Bang
- 浩瀚的宇宙vast universe
Origin
The word combines 宇 (space, originally meaning the area under a roof) and 宙 (time, duration). Together they represent the spatial and temporal totality of existence—a classical Chinese conception of the universe as unified space-time.