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March 24, 2026
天tiān(tian1)
The character 天 (tiān) primarily means 'sky' or 'heaven,' and it can also refer to 'day' in certain contexts. It is commonly used in phrases related to weather, the universe, and celestial concepts, embodying a sense of vastness and divinity.
Strokes4Radical大Frequency#88DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 天 is often associated with the concept of 'Tian' as a divine force or authority, influencing philosophical thoughts such as Confucianism. It is also central to traditional beliefs about destiny and nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine looking up at a bright blue sky (天) during the day. The character resembles a roof or cover over you, representing the heavens above. The pronunciation 'tiān' sounds like 'tian,' which can remind you of 'ten,' as in ten fingers reaching up to touch the sky.
Meanings of 天
tiān(tian1)
1day
2sky
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 天
天Simplified
4Strokes
大Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#88Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 天
Podcast: 天
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AI Study Notes for 天
Quick Contrast
天 (tiān) vs 天空 (tiānkōng) — use 天 for 'heaven' or 'day' and 天空 specifically for 'sky' as a physical space.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine looking up at a bright blue sky (天) during the day. The character resembles a roof or cover over you, representing the heavens above. The pronunciation 'tiān' sounds like 'tian,' which can remind you of 'ten,' as in ten fingers reaching up to touch the sky.
Usage Notes
天 is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its use in idiomatic expressions. Common collocations include 天气 (tiānqì - weather) and 最高天 (zuìgāo tiān - highest heaven). Do not confuse it with 地 (dì - earth), which represents the opposite.
HSK Study Tips
Although 天 is not specifically listed under a particular HSK level, it connects with other basic vocabulary related to nature and daily life, such as 日 (rì - sun) and 月 (yuè - moon). Focus on its usage in combinations and phrases to enhance understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 天 is often associated with the concept of 'Tian' as a divine force or authority, influencing philosophical thoughts such as Confucianism. It is also central to traditional beliefs about destiny and nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 天 with 地 (dì) and may incorrectly use one for the other. For example, saying '地气' instead of '天气' when referring to 'weather' is a common mistake.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 天
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Grammar Patterns of 天
天 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 4 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.
The Turkish situation makes the lead in tomorrow's Guardian.
7
你可以和其他在线的人聊天。
nǐ kě yǐ hé qí tā zài xiàn de rén liáo tiān。
You can chat to other people who are online.
8
哦，天哪，你总是这么激动，真该死。
ó， ， tiān， nǎ ， nǐ zǒng shì zhè mó， jī dòng ，。
Oh God, you get so flaming worked up about everything.
9
你每天至少得用10块尿布。
nǐ měi tiān zhì shǎo dé yòng10 10 kuài niào。
You'll get through at least ten nappies a day.
10
我明天给你打电话。
wǒ míng tiān gěi nǐ dǎ diàn huà。
I was going to give you a bell tomorrow.
Cultural Notes for 天
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 天 is often associated with the concept of 'Tian' as a divine force or authority, influencing philosophical thoughts such as Confucianism. It is also central to traditional beliefs about destiny and nature.
Word Family of 天
Compounds15
关Guan1surname Guan
奏zou4to play music
吞tun1to swallow
吴Wu2one of several warring states; surname
蚕can2silkworm
昊Hao4summertime; sky, heaven
癸gui310th heavenly stem
奣
祆Xian1Ormazda, the Zoroastrian sun god
沗
蝅
蠺
迗
鴌
龑
Words Containing This Character20
天tiānday
今天jīntiāntoday
明天míngtiāntomorrow
昨天zuótiānyesterday
每天every day
天气tiānqìweather天氣
那天that day
当天dàngtiānon that day當天
聊天liáotiānto chat
天使tiānshǐangel
天天every day
冬天dōngtiānwinter
天堂tiāntángparadise
老天God
天下tiānxiàland under heaven
夏天xiàtiānsummer
整天zhěngtiānall day long
天津Tianjin, a municipality in northeast China, abbr. 津
天空tiānkōngsky
白天báitiāndaytime
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 关 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 天
天 can mean 'sky,' 'heaven,' or 'day,' and its meaning can vary based on phrases it appears in.
It is pronounced as 'tiān' with a high-level tone.
Yes, 天 is commonly used in the phrase 天气 (tiānqì), which means 'weather.'
