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天文 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
天文tiānwénastronomyHSK 6, nz, 8 strokes, rank #21752, Hard
tiānwén(tian1wen2)tian wen T1
  1. 1astronomy
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March 24, 2026

天文tiānwén(tian1wen2)

天文 (tiānwén) refers to the scientific study of celestial bodies and phenomena, which is known as astronomy in English. It encompasses the observation, analysis, and theoretical understanding of stars, planets, and the universe. This term is commonly used in academic contexts and discussions about space exploration.

Strokes8Frequency#21752DifficultyHard
Cultural note

Astronomy has deep roots in Chinese culture, with historical texts like the 'Book of Han' documenting celestial observations. The Chinese also have a rich tradition of star mythology, which informs modern astronomical terminology.

Memory tip

Imagine looking up at the sky (天, tiān) and marveling at the vastness of the universe (文, wén) filled with stars and planets. The character for 'sky' (天) resembles a roof over our heads, while 'literature' (文) can remind you of the stories and knowledge we seek about the cosmos.

Meanings of 天文

tiānwén(tian1wen2)
1astronomy
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 天文

天文Simplified
8Strokes
—Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#21752Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

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Podcast: 天文

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AI study notes for 天文

Usage Notes

When using 天文, it is important to note that it is often found in formal contexts, such as academic papers or lectures. A common mistake is to confuse it with 天气 (tiānqì), which means 'weather.' Be mindful of the tone: both characters are in the second and first tones respectively.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 天文 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to science and nature. Students should focus on integrating this term with related fields like 物理 (wùlǐ, physics) and 化学 (huàxué, chemistry) to build a deeper understanding of scientific discourse in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 天文 with 天气, leading to phrases like '我在研究天气' (I am studying the weather) instead of '我在研究天文' (I am studying astronomy). Always remember that 天文 is about the universe, not the weather.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 天文

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Component characters

天tiānday
HSK 14 strokes大
View full entry
文wénlanguage
HSK 74 strokes文
View full entry

How to say astronomy in Chinese

“astronomy” in Chinese is天文tiānwén

天文 (tiānwén) refers to the scientific study of celestial bodies and phenomena, which is known as astronomy in English. It encompasses the observation, analysis, and theoretical understanding of stars, planets, and the universe. This term is commonly used in academic contexts and discussions about space exploration.

When to use 天文

When using 天文, it is important to note that it is often found in formal contexts, such as academic papers or lectures. A common mistake is to confuse it with 天气 (tiānqì), which means 'weather.' Be mindful of the tone: both characters are in the second and first tones respectively.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 天文 with 天气, leading to phrases like '我在研究天气' (I am studying the weather) instead of '我在研究天文' (I am studying astronomy). Always remember that 天文 is about the universe, not the weather.

Write 天文

天
文

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

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Grammar patterns of 天文

天文 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

早期的____学家认为我们的星球是宇宙的中心。

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

Example sentences for 天文 (4)

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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。

zǎoqī de tiānwén xué jiā rènwéi wǒmen de xīngqiú shì yǔzhòu de zhōngxīn。

Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2
总的说来,航空企业很好地促进了天文学的发展。

zǒng de shuō lái, hángkōng qǐyè hěn hǎo dì cùjìn le tiānwén xué de fāzhǎn。

Speaking generally, the space enterprise has served astronomy well.
3
盖伊的房子离天文台很近.

gài yī de fángzi lí tiānwén tái hěnjìn.

Guy's house was close to the observatory.
4
你懂天文学 吗 ?

nǐ dǒng tiānwén xué ma?

Do you know anything about astronomy?

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Frequently asked questions about 天文

天文 refers specifically to astronomy, while 物理 means physics, which is a broader field encompassing various scientific principles.

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