宇宙
yǔzhòu/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵¹/
The English phrase "universe" is 宇宙 (yǔzhòu) in Mandarin.
宇宙 refers to the sum of everything that exists.
Meaning: sum of everything that exists (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The first character 宇 (yǔ) refers to the space under a roof or the expanse of the sky. The word 宇宙 literally combines the concepts of space (宇) and time (宙) to mean the universe.
How do you pronounce it?
yǔzhòu
Did you know?
- The concept of the universe as a combination of space and time in 宇宙 is found in texts dating back to the pre-Qin period, long before modern physics.
- While 宇宙 is the standard term for the physical universe, the word 天下 (tiānxià), meaning 'all under heaven', was historically used to describe the known world.
- In modern Mandarin, 宇宙 is used both for the astronomical universe and in the context of 'cinematic universes' for movie franchises.
Examples in context
- 但宇宙無限。But the universe is infinite.Tatoeba #13115785 by LeviHighway, translation #1635 by Zifre
- 宇宙浩瀚無邊。The universe is limitless.Tatoeba #928900 by egg0073, translation #928899 by CM
- 数学是神用来撰写宇宙的语言。Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.Tatoeba #2906690 by GlossaMatik, translation #2724507 by Hybrid
- 科学家研究宇宙。Scientists study the universe.
- 她是我的天地。She is my universe.
- 美在宇宙间存在。Beauty exists in the universe.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xinyi and Zhiqiang are looking at the stars at night.
- 欣怡 Xinyi你看，宇宙真的太大了。Nǐ kàn, yǔzhòu zhēnde tài dà le.Look, the universe is truly too big.
- 志强 Zhiqiang没错，我们在这个宇宙中很渺小。Méicuò, wǒmen zài zhège yǔzhòu zhōng hěn miǎoxiǎo.That's right, we are very small in this universe.
- 欣怡 Xinyi你觉得宇宙中还有外星人吗？Nǐ juéde yǔzhòu zhōng hái yǒu wàixīngrén ma?Do you think there are aliens in the universe?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我想一定有，宇宙这么广阔。Wǒ xiǎng yīdìng yǒu, yǔzhòu zhème guǎngkuò.I think there must be, the universe is so vast.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 宇宙, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 宇宙, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
