星系
xīngxì
The English word 'galaxy' can be translated into Chinese as 星系 (xīngxì). Wiktionary also lists 恆星系 / 恒星系 (héngxīngxì) and 群星 (qúnxīng).
Meaning: collection of billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 星系 | xīngxì |
| 恆星系 / 恒星系 | héngxīngxì |
| 群星 | qúnxīng |
In Chinese, the term refers to a collection of billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 星系 is composed of 星 (star) and 系 (system).
Which one should you use?
While 星系 is the standard general term for 'galaxy', 恆星系 / 恒星系 is a more formal, technical term used in astronomy to specifically denote a system of stars. In contrast, 群星 refers to a multitude or cluster of stars in a more poetic or general sense, similar to 'the stars'.
How do you pronounce it?
xīngxì
Did you know?
- In Chinese mythology, the 'silver river' of the Milky Way separates the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, who are only allowed to meet once a year.
- In Chinese, the phrase 银河 (yínhé), which literally means 'Silver River', is the most common way to refer to our own Milky Way galaxy in daily conversation.
- The word 系 in 星系 is also used to describe 'departments' in a university or 'systems' in a computer, linking cosmic structures to organizational hierarchies.
Examples in context
- 天文學家們發現了一個幾乎沒有暗物質的星系。Astronomers have discovered a galaxy that has almost no dark matter.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a galaxy in a scientific context using 星系.Tatoeba #10268713 by DaoSeng, translation #6805554 by Hybrid
- 他对星系的研究非常感兴趣。He is very interested in the study of galaxies.
- 昨晚我看到了美丽的星星和银河。Last night, I saw beautiful stars and the galaxy.
- 這個星系看起來非常壯觀。Zhège xīngxì kàn qǐlái fēicháng zhuàngguān.This galaxy looks very magnificent.
- 科學家正在研究那個遙遠的星系。Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū nàgè yáoyuǎn de xīngxì.Scientists are studying that distant galaxy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “galaxy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
