宇 (yǔ) - Universe, cosmos & space

宇Tone 3

yǔ ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 宀

与喻

宇 · yǔ

Universe, cosmos;

space;

house, building;

roof;

appearance, demeanor.

Universe, cosmosspacehouse, building

Usage highlights

UniverseCosmosSpaceDemeanorTempleHouse

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 隅— corner, nook (limited space vs. vast universe)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The universe is vast (宇宙).
  • This is a spacious house (宇屋).
  • He has a dignified appearance (器宇轩昂).
  • Space exploration (宇宙探索).

Collocations

  • Universe(宇宙)
  • Cosmos(宇宙)
  • Space(宇宙)
  • Demeanor(器宇)
  • Temple(庙宇)
  • House(屋宇)

Idioms

  • To have an imposing appearance(气宇轩昂)
  • To encompass the universe(包举宇内)
  • The whole world(寰宇之内)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese cosmology, '宇' refers to the four directions of space, while '宙' refers to the past and present of time.
  • The character is often used in names to convey a sense of grandeur, breadth, and cosmic significance.
  • It appears in philosophical texts like Zhuangzi, discussing the vastness of the universe.

FAQ