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宇宙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宇宙yǔzhòuuniverseHSK 7, n, rank #2403, Hard
宇宙yǔzhòucosmosHSK 7, n, rank #2403, Hard
yǔzhòu(yu3zhou4) T3
  1. 1universe
  2. 2cosmos
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March 24, 2026
宇宙yǔzhòu(yu3zhou4)

宇宙 refers to the universe or cosmos, encompassing all of space, time, matter, and energy. It is often used in scientific discussions, philosophical inquiries, and in literary contexts when contemplating existence and the vastness of reality.

Frequency#2403DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宇宙 is often intertwined with philosophical beliefs, especially in Daoism, where the universe is viewed as a harmonious whole. This reflects the traditional Chinese view of balance and interconnectedness in nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'Yurt' (宇) in the vast 'Zhou' (宙) of space, representing the universe. The rounded form of the yurt symbolizes the infinite nature of the cosmos, while the sound 'yu' connects to 'yurt' and 'zhou' to 'zone,' emphasizing the vastness of the universe as a distinct zone.

Meanings of 宇宙

yǔzhòu(yu3zhou4)
1universe
2cosmos
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 宇宙

宇宙Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2403Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 宇宙

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Podcast: 宇宙

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AI Study Notes for 宇宙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant 'Yurt' (宇) in the vast 'Zhou' (宙) of space, representing the universe. The rounded form of the yurt symbolizes the infinite nature of the cosmos, while the sound 'yu' connects to 'yurt' and 'zhou' to 'zone,' emphasizing the vastness of the universe as a distinct zone.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 宇宙 with other terms for space, like 空间 (kōngjiān), which means space in a more physical sense. 宇宙 is more formal and used in scientific or philosophical contexts, while 空间 is more common in everyday conversation. Be aware of the tone when pronouncing; the third tone for 'yu' can be tricky.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 宇宙 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to science, philosophy, and existential themes. Students should focus on its usage in complex sentences and in contrast to simpler terms like 空间, which may come up in discussions about physical spaces.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宇宙 is often intertwined with philosophical beliefs, especially in Daoism, where the universe is viewed as a harmonious whole. This reflects the traditional Chinese view of balance and interconnectedness in nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 宇宙 when referring to a specific place or physical space, such as saying 宇宙里有一张桌子 (There is a table in the universe), which should be 空间里有一张桌子. Ensure to use 宇宙 in broader contexts related to the universe.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宇宙

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Component Characters

宇yǔroom
HSK 56 strokes宀
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宙zhòuuniverse
HSK 58 strokes宀
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Write 宇宙

宇
宙

Practice writing 宇宙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 宇宙

宇宙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是____的中心。

Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.

Example Sentences for 宇宙 (6)

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1
早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是宇宙的中心。

zǎo qī de tiān wén xué jiā rèn wéi wǒ mén de xīng qiú shì yǔ zhòu de zhōng xīn。

Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2
载人宇宙飞行的前景看上去充满了越来越多的变数。

zǎi rén yǔ zhòu fēi háng de qián jǐng kàn shàng qù chōng mǎn le yuè lái yuè duō de biàn shù。

The future for manned space flight is looking increasingly uncertain.
3
简洁之情:宇宙整体的一明一暗或一阴一阳.

jiǎn jié zhī qíng: : yǔ zhòu zhěng tǐ de yī míng yī àn huò yī yīn yī.

Conciseness Theand dark and the Yin and Yang of the universe.
4
如果飞行速度超过每秒11公里，宇宙飞船将摆脱地球的引力。

rú guǒ fēi háng sù dù chāo guò měi miǎo11 11 gōng， lǐ ， yǔ zhòu fēi chuán jiāng bǎi tuō dì qiú de。

If a spacecraft travels faster than 11 km a second, it escapes the earth's gravitational pull.
5
这些纤维状星云物质以每秒大约5000公里的速度向宇宙空间扩展.

zhè xiē xiān wéi zhuàng xīng yún wù zhì yǐ měi miǎo dà yuē5000 5000 gōng lǐ de sù dù xiàng yǔ zhòu kōng jiān kuò.

The filaments are expanding into space at a speed of roughly 5,000 kilometers per second.
6
一百万分之一秒之后,宇宙就膨胀到几十亿英里宽.

yī bǎi wàn fēn zhī yī miǎo zhī hòu, , yǔ zhòu jiù péng zhàng dào jī shí yì yīng lǐ.

Microseconds later the universe inflated to become billions of miles wide.

Cultural Notes for 宇宙

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 宇宙 is often intertwined with philosophical beliefs, especially in Daoism, where the universe is viewed as a harmonious whole. This reflects the traditional Chinese view of balance and interconnectedness in nature.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Eastern and Western cultures explore the cosmos, Western discussions often emphasize scientific exploration and technology, whereas Chinese perspectives may include more philosophical and spiritual elements.

Frequently Asked Questions about 宇宙

宇宙 refers to the universe as a whole, including everything in existence, whereas 空间 specifically refers to physical space.