宇宙
うちゅう
hepburn uchuu
space, the universe
Part of speech · noun
Pattern visualization
no decomposition available
Examples
- 子供のころから宇宙に興味があります。I have been interested in space since childhood.
- 宇宙にはたくさんの星があります。There are many stars in the universe.
Collocations
宇宙の星宇宙へ行く宇宙旅行宇宙飛行士広い宇宙
Mnemonic
宇宙 uchuu — 宇 (eaves, space) + 宙 (space, sky). Both kanji originally meant a roofed space; in classical China 宇 meant infinite space and 宙 infinite time — together, all space-time — the universe. K-76's 地球 (the Earth) is one planet within it. It extends into 宇宙飛行士 (astronaut).
Quick check
In classical China, what did 宇 and 宙 each refer to?