When you look up, you see the 天空 (tiān kōng), which means sky. It's where the clouds, sun, and stars are. Sometimes the 天空 is blue, sometimes it's gray. You can use it when talking about the weather or what you see above you.
When talking about the sky in Chinese, you'll most commonly use the word 天空 (tiān kōng). This is a general term for the sky above us. It can refer to the blue sky on a clear day or the cloudy sky before a storm. You might hear people use it when describing the weather or the view outside. For instance, if you want to say "the sky is blue," you would say "天空是蓝色的 (Tiān kōng shì lán sè de)." It's a straightforward word and quite versatile for everyday conversation.
“天空” is the general word for sky. It refers to the space above the earth where the sun, moon, and stars are seen.
It's used in many common phrases and expressions, such as “蓝天” (blue sky) or “天空晴朗” (the sky is clear).
You’ll hear this word a lot in daily conversation and see it in weather reports.
It’s a fundamental word to know when describing outdoor scenes or weather.
§ Don't Confuse 天空 with 天 (tiān)
Many learners, especially beginners, often get confused between 天空 (tiānkōng) and 天 (tiān). While both relate to the sky, they are not always interchangeable. 天空 (tiānkōng) specifically refers to the physical sky, the expanse above us where clouds, birds, and stars are. Think of it as 'the heavens' in a more concrete sense.
- DEFINITION
- 天空 (tiānkōng): The sky; the space above the earth.
On the other hand, 天 (tiān) is a much broader word. It can mean 'sky,' but it also means 'day,' 'heaven,' 'weather,' and even 'God' or 'the divine.' Using 天 (tiān) when you specifically mean the physical sky can sometimes be ambiguous or even incorrect in certain contexts.
- DEFINITION
- 天 (tiān): Day; sky; heaven; weather; God.
§ Using 天空 in Phrases About Weather
While the sky is related to weather, you typically don't use 天空 (tiānkōng) directly when talking about general weather conditions. For weather, we use 天气 (tiānqì). For example, you wouldn't say '天空很好' to mean 'the weather is good.' You'd say '天气很好.'
今天的天气很好。(Jīntiān de tiānqì hěn hǎo.)
Today's weather is very good.
However, you can describe the state of the sky as part of the weather description. For instance, '天空很蓝' (The sky is very blue) or '天空多云' (The sky is cloudy) are perfectly fine and natural.
早晨的天空很美。(Zǎochén de tiānkōng hěn měi.)
The morning sky is beautiful.
雨后，天空出现了彩虹。(Yǔ hòu, tiānkōng chūxiànle cǎihóng.)
After the rain, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
§ Redundancy with 'Blue Sky'
In English, we often say 'blue sky.' In Chinese, while you can say 蓝色的天空 (lánsè de tiānkōng), it's more common and natural to simply say 蓝天 (lántiān). This is a common and concise way to express 'blue sky' and avoids unnecessary words.
今天有美丽的蓝天。(Jīntiān yǒu měilì de lántiān.)
Today there is a beautiful blue sky.
§ Not Using 天空 for 'The Heavens' in a Figurative Sense
If you're talking about 'the heavens' in a more abstract, spiritual, or figurative sense, like 'heaven and earth' or 'the will of heaven,' 天 (tiān) is usually the correct word, not 天空 (tiānkōng).
天地 (tiāndì): Heaven and earth (a common idiom)
天意 (tiānyì): The will of heaven; divine will
In these cases, 天空 (tiānkōng) would sound awkward or incorrect because it refers to the literal, physical sky.
§ Summary of Key Distinctions
To avoid common mistakes with 天空 (tiānkōng), remember these points:
- Use 天空 (tiānkōng) for the visible, physical sky.
- Use 天 (tiān) for 'day,' 'heaven' (abstract/spiritual), 'weather' (in compound words like 天气), or 'God.'
- Use 天气 (tiānqì) for general weather conditions.
- Use 蓝天 (lántiān) for 'blue sky' for conciseness.
By keeping these distinctions in mind, you'll use 天空 (tiānkōng) much more accurately and sound more like a native speaker!
Grammar to Know
Measuring words are often used before nouns like '天空' when quantifying them. However, '天空' typically refers to the sky in general, so it's less common to quantify it directly with a number and a measure word unless you're talking about a specific portion or view of the sky. For instance, you might say '一片天空' (a stretch of sky) if describing a visual aspect.
今天天空很蓝。(Jīntiān tiānkōng hěn lán.) Today the sky is very blue.
'天空' can be used as the subject or object in a sentence. As a subject, it performs the action or is described. As an object, it receives the action.
我喜欢看夜晚的天空。(Wǒ xǐhuān kàn yèwǎn de tiānkōng.) I like to look at the night sky.
Adjectives often follow '天空' to describe its appearance or state. Common adjectives include '蓝' (blue), '灰' (gray), '晴朗' (clear), or '阴沉' (gloomy).
乌云密布的天空预示着一场大雨。(Wūyún mìbù de tiānkōng yùshìzhe yī chǎng dàyǔ.) The sky covered with dark clouds indicates a heavy rain.
The particle '的' (de) can be used to show possession or modification when describing something related to the sky, though it's not always necessary, especially when '天空' is directly modified by an adjective.
鸟儿在天空自由飞翔。(Niǎor zài tiānkōng zìyóu fēixiáng.) Birds are flying freely in the sky.
'天空' is often used in common expressions or idioms. For example, '天高云淡' (tiān gāo yún dàn) describes a clear and open sky, often used to imply a pleasant and carefree atmosphere.
清晨，天空刚刚泛白。(Qīngchén, tiānkōng gānggāng fànbái.) In the early morning, the sky was just turning white.
Examples by Level
孩子们在户外玩耍，仰望着湛蓝的天空。
The children were playing outdoors, looking up at the azure sky.
傍晚时分，天空的颜色从橙色变成了深紫色。
As evening approached, the color of the sky changed from orange to deep purple.
飞行员告诉我，在三万英尺高空，天空看起来完全不同。
The pilot told me that at thirty thousand feet, the sky looks completely different.
我喜欢清晨的阳光，它把天空染成一片金黄。
I love the morning sun; it dyes the sky a golden yellow.
预测明天会有大雨，因为天空乌云密布。
Heavy rain is predicted for tomorrow, as the sky is covered with dark clouds.
夜幕降临，满天繁星点缀着寂静的天空。
Night fell, and countless stars dotted the silent sky.
风筝在空中自由自在地飞翔，仿佛要触摸到天空。
The kite soared freely in the air, as if trying to touch the sky.
我梦想有一天能乘坐飞机，飞越广阔的天空，去探索未知的世界。
I dream of one day flying in an airplane, soaring across the vast sky to explore unknown worlds.
Grammar Patterns
Sentence Patterns
adj. 的 天空 (adj. de tiān kōng)
晴朗的天空。(qíng lǎng de tiān kōng) - Clear sky.
天空 + verb
天空下雨了。(tiān kōng xià yǔ le) - It's raining (the sky is raining).
subject + verb + 天空
孩子们喜欢看天空。(hái zi men xǐ huān kàn tiān kōng) - Children like to look at the sky.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
How to Use It
The word 天空 (tiān kōng) refers to the sky, the space above the earth where clouds, sun, moon, and stars are seen. It's a general term and can be used in most contexts where you would say 'sky' in English.
A common mistake is to confuse 天空 (tiān kōng) with 天 (tiān). While 天 can sometimes refer to the sky (e.g., 'blue sky' is 蓝天 - lán tiān), it has many other meanings like 'day' or 'heaven'. 天空 specifically means 'the sky'.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions空 (kōng) can mean empty, hollow, or even air. It's a more general term. 天空 (tiānkōng) specifically means 'sky'. Think of it this way: all skies are 空, but not all 空 are skies. For example, an empty box is 空, but it's not 天空.
You can use colors like 蓝色 (lán sè) for blue, 灰色 (huī sè) for grey, or 红色 (hóng sè) for red (like at sunset). Just put the color before 天空. For example, 蓝色的天空 (lán sè de tiānkōng) means 'blue sky'.
Yes, you can. For instance, you can say 天空很晴朗 (tiānkōng hěn qínglǎng) to mean 'the sky is clear and sunny', or 天空多云 (tiānkōng duōyún) for 'the sky is cloudy'. You're describing the state of the sky as part of the weather.
While 天空 (tiānkōng) is the standard, you might sometimes hear just 天 (tiān) used in more poetic contexts or in compounds like 天上 (tiān shàng) which means 'in the sky' or 'heaven'. But stick to 天空 (tiānkōng) for everyday conversations.
You would say 在天空下 (zài tiānkōng xià). 在 (zài) means 'at' or 'in', and 下 (xià) means 'below' or 'under'. So, literally 'at sky below'.
Generally, no. 天空 (tiānkōng) refers to the Earth's atmosphere. For outer space, you would use 太空 (tàikōng). They are different concepts in Chinese.
A common and useful phrase is 天空很美 (tiānkōng hěn měi), which means 'the sky is very beautiful'. It's simple and describes something you'll often see.
Not really in a direct sense like some English phrases. It primarily refers to the literal sky. If you want to talk about something being 'limitless' like the sky, you'd use other expressions, not 天空 (tiānkōng) directly.
You can ask: 今天天空是什么颜色的？(Jīntiān tiānkōng shì shénme yánsè de?). This translates to 'Today sky is what color of?'
No. While 天 (tiān) alone can sometimes carry religious connotations like 'heaven' or 'Providence', 天空 (tiānkōng) specifically means the physical sky. For religious concepts, you'd use words like 天堂 (tiāntáng) for heaven, or other specific religious terms.
Test Yourself 54 questions
The sky is blue.
Do you like to look at the sky?
Today's sky is very beautiful.
Read this aloud:
看天空。
Focus: tiān kōng
You said:
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Read this aloud:
天空是什么颜色的？
Focus: yán sè
You said:
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Read this aloud:
我喜欢晴朗的天空。
Focus: qíng lǎng
You said:
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Write a short sentence describing what you see when you look up at the sky during the day.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
白天我看到蓝色的天空和白云。
Write a sentence about what the sky looks like at night, specifically mentioning stars.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
晚上天空有很多星星。
Imagine you are talking about the weather. Write a simple sentence saying 'The sky is very clear today.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今天天空很晴朗。
根据这段话，今天的天空是什么颜色的？ (According to this passage, what color is the sky today?)
Read this passage:
今天天气很好。天空是蓝色的，没有云。我们可以出去玩。
根据这段话，今天的天空是什么颜色的？ (According to this passage, what color is the sky today?)
文章中明确提到“天空是蓝色的”。
文章中明确提到“天空是蓝色的”。
晚上天空有什么？ (What is in the sky at night?)
Read this passage:
晚上，我喜欢看天空。天空上有很多亮亮的星星。
晚上天空有什么？ (What is in the sky at night?)
文章中提到“天空上有很多亮亮的星星”。
文章中提到“天空上有很多亮亮的星星”。
下雨的时候，天空通常是什么颜色？ (What color is the sky usually when it rains?)
Read this passage:
下雨的时候，天空是灰色的。但是下完雨，天空会变蓝。
下雨的时候，天空通常是什么颜色？ (What color is the sky usually when it rains?)
文章中明确指出“下雨的时候，天空是灰色的”。
文章中明确指出“下雨的时候，天空是灰色的”。
今晚的___真美，星星一闪一闪的。
The context 'stars twinkling' indicates the sky.
飞机在___中飞行，像一只巨大的鸟。
Planes fly in the sky.
孩子们喜欢在户外玩耍，看着蓝色的___。
Children often look at the blue sky when playing outdoors.
雨过天晴，一道彩虹挂在___上。
Rainbows appear in the sky after rain.
我梦想有一天能像鸟儿一样在___自由飞翔。
Birds fly freely in the sky.
朝霞染红了半边___，景色非常壮观。
The morning glow colors the sky, making for a spectacular view.
This sentence means 'Today the sky is blue.' The correct order is Subject-Verb-Adjective.
This sentence means 'Clouds are floating in the sky.' '在...中' (in the...) is a common structure for location.
This sentence means 'I like to look at the night sky.' '的' connects '夜晚' (night) to '天空' (sky).
This sentence means 'The sky is especially blue today.' The natural order in Chinese is subject (今天天空), then adverb (特别), then adjective (蓝).
This sentence means 'Birds are flying in the sky.' The structure is Subject + 在 (preposition indicating location) + Location + Verb.
This sentence means 'There are many stars in the night sky.' Here, '夜晚的天空' acts as a noun phrase meaning 'the night sky,' followed by the subject '星星' and descriptive '很多'.
深邃的蓝色___似乎无边无际。
The context describes something deep blue and boundless, which aligns with 'sky' (天空).
傍晚时分，夕阳将___染成了绚丽的橙红色。
The setting sun colors the 'sky' (天空) orange and red in the evening.
飞机在___中划过一道白色的轨迹。
Planes fly through the 'sky' (天空), leaving a white trail.
孩子们在草地上嬉戏，不时抬头仰望___中飘动的白云。
Children look up at the 'sky' (天空) to see white clouds floating by.
宇航员们通过望远镜观察___中的遥远星系。
Astronauts observe distant galaxies in the 'sky' (天空) through telescopes.
雷雨交加的夜晚，闪电划破了漆黑的___。
Lightning streaks across the dark 'sky' (天空) during a thunderstorm.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: “经过一夜的暴风雨，第二天____变得格外晴朗，令人心旷神怡。”
暴风雨过后，通常是天空放晴，与“心旷神怡”的心情相符。地面、海洋和森林在暴风雨后不一定会变得晴朗。
Which of the following sentences correctly uses the word “天空”?
“天空”通常指地球上方的广阔空间，是一个自然景象。选项B、C、D的使用方式不符合其日常语境。
Select the sentence where “天空” is used metaphorically:
在这个句子中，“天空”被用来比喻梦想的广阔和无限，是一种修辞手法。其他选项中的“天空”都是指具体的自然景象。
“天空”只能用来描述白天有云或无云的状态。
“天空”可以指代白天和夜晚，例如“夜空”。因此该陈述不正确。
在中文中，我们可以说“天空是无限的”来表达天空的广阔。
“天空是无限的”是一个常用且地道的表达，用来形容天空的无边无际。
当你想表达“飞机在天空中飞行”时，可以说“飞机在天上飞行”而意思不变。
“天上”是“天空”的口语化表达，在很多语境下可以互换使用，表示同一个意思。
Pay attention to how the clouds are described.
Consider the feeling conveyed when looking at the stars.
Listen for details about the sky at dawn.
Read this aloud:
湛蓝的天空下，海风轻拂，令人心旷神怡。
Focus: 湛蓝 (zhànlán)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
当夜幕降临，繁星点点的天空总是让人充满遐想。
Focus: 遐想 (xiáxiǎng)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
污染日益严重，曾经清澈的天空如今变得灰蒙蒙的。
Focus: 灰蒙蒙 (huīméngméng)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen for the description of the sky at night.
Pay attention to what kind of sky he is looking at.
What does the sky predict?
Read this aloud:
湛蓝的天空下，白云朵朵，构成了一幅美丽的画卷。
Focus: 湛蓝 (zhànlán)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
天空中盘旋的鹰，自由自在，令人心生向往。
Focus: 盘旋 (pánxuán)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我喜欢仰望夜晚的星空，感受宇宙的浩瀚无垠。
Focus: 浩瀚无垠 (hàohàn wúyín)
You said:
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/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Example
天空很蓝，有很多白云。
