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宙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宙zhòuuniverseHSK 5, zg, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #40845, Very Hard
宙zhòuspace, time, space-timeHSK 5, zg, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #40845, Very Hard
宙zhòueternityHSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #40845, Very Hard, philosophy, geology, astronomy
宙zhòu(geology) eonHSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #40845, Very Hard
zhòu(zhou4) T4
  1. 1universe
  2. 2space, time, space-time
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
宙zhòu(zhou4)

The character 宙 (zhòu) refers to the concepts of the universe, space, and time. It is often used in contexts related to astronomy and philosophy, encompassing ideas of eternity and the vastness of existence. In geology, it denotes long periods of time, such as an eon.

Strokes8Radical宀Frequency#40845DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of 宙 connects deeply to Chinese cosmology, which views the universe as a harmonious whole, emphasizing balance between heaven and earth. It reflects the traditional Chinese understanding of the interconnectedness of all things in the universe.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant clock in the universe with stars and planets spinning around it, representing both time and space. The character 宙 has components that suggest a house (宀) over a vast expanse (由), symbolizing the dwelling place of the universe.

Meanings of 宙

zhòu(zhou4)
1universe
2space, time, space-time
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 宙

宙Simplified
8Strokes
宀Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#40845Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5

Podcast: 宙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 宙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 宙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant clock in the universe with stars and planets spinning around it, representing both time and space. The character 宙 has components that suggest a house (宀) over a vast expanse (由), symbolizing the dwelling place of the universe.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 宙 with similar characters related to time and space. It is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in literature or scientific discussions. Be mindful of using it correctly in phrases like '宇宙' (universe) where 宙 is part of the compound.

HSK Study Tips

Although 宙 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to higher-level concepts in HSK 5 and beyond. Students should focus on its usage in philosophical and scientific contexts to expand their understanding of abstract concepts.

Cultural Note

The concept of 宙 connects deeply to Chinese cosmology, which views the universe as a harmonious whole, emphasizing balance between heaven and earth. It reflects the traditional Chinese understanding of the interconnectedness of all things in the universe.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宙 with the character 时间 (shíjiān), which means 'time' specifically. Remember that 宙 encompasses both time and space, whereas 时间 strictly refers to time.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宙

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Etymology of 宙

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 由 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

roof - the sky

Semantic (meaning)宀
+
Phonetic (sound)由
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 宙?

Decomposition of 宙

IDS Structure⿱宀由
宙Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
由you2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 宙?

Write 宙

宙

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 宙

宙 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是宇____的中心。

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

Common Confusions with 宙

宙vs周
zhōu

Similar pronunciation but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "universe"?

or

Example Sentences for 宙 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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
赫斯提亚是宙斯 、 波塞冬和哈迪斯的姐姐.

hè sī tí yà shì zhòu sī、 、 bō sāi dōng hé hā dí sī de jiě.

Hestia is the sister to Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
宙斯重新拾起地上的奥林匹斯之剑.

zhòu sī zhòng xīn shí qǐ dì shàng de ào lín pǐ sī zhī jiàn.

Zeus retrieves the Blade of Olympus from the ground.
9
守城将军和赵宙桃在会议开始后进入.

shǒu chéng jiāng jūn hé zhào zhòu táo zài huì yì kāi shǐ hòu jìn rù.

A castellan and Jojoodo come in while a conference is in session.
10
每个神 —— 甚至宙斯自己 —— 都想要娶这位 “ 美丽的, 绝色的女神 ” 为妻.

měi gè shén—— —— shèn zhì zhòu sī zì—— jǐ —— dū xiǎng yào qǔ“ zhè wèi “, měi lì de , jué” sè de.

Every god -- even Zeus himself -- wanted this " beautiful, golden goddess " as his wife.

Cultural Notes for 宙

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of 宙 connects deeply to Chinese cosmology, which views the universe as a harmonious whole, emphasizing balance between heaven and earth. It reflects the traditional Chinese understanding of the interconnectedness of all things in the universe.

Word Family of 宙

Words Containing This Character12
宇宙yǔzhòuuniverse
宇宙飞船spacecraft宇宙飛船
宙斯Zeus
宙zhòueternity
宇宙观world view宇宙觀
宇宙学cosmology宇宙學
宇宙线cosmic ray宇宙線
宇宙射线cosmic ray宇宙射線
太古宙Archaean (geological eon before 2500m years ago)
元古宙pre-Cambrian (geological eon 2500-645m)
显生宙Phanerozoic, geological eon lasting since the Cambrian 寒武紀|寒武纪[Hán​wǔ​jì], c. 540m year ago顯生宙
隐生宙Cryptozoic隱生宙
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 宇宙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 宙

宇宙 (yǔzhòu) means 'universe' and is a compound word that combines both space (宇) and time (宙). 宙 by itself highlights the aspect of time and the vastness of existence.