宙 (zhòu) - Universe, cosmos & time as in eternity

宙Tone 4

zhòu ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 宀

志

宙 · zhòu

Universe, cosmos;

time as in eternity;

in ancient Chinese cosmology, the infinite space-time continuum.

Universe, cosmostime as in eternityin ancient Chinese cosmology, the infinite space-time continuum.

Usage highlights

UniverseCosmosSpaceCosmologyCosmicWorld

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 刹那— instant, moment (antonym to eternal time)
  • 有限— finite, limited

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The universe (宇宙) is vast and mysterious.
  • This is a space-time continuum (时空的宙).
  • He studies cosmology (宇宙学).
  • Ancient Chinese divided time into yuzhou (宇宙).

Collocations

  • Universe(宇宙)
  • Cosmos(宇宙)
  • Space-time(时空的宙)
  • Cosmology(宇宙学)
  • Cosmic(宇宙的)
  • World(世界)

Idioms

  • The vast universe(浩瀚宇宙)
  • Throughout the ages(万古长宙)
  • The cosmos and all within it(宇宙万物)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese thought, 'zhou' (宙) referred to infinite time, while 'yu' (宇) referred to infinite space; together they form 'yuzhou' (宇宙), the space-time continuum.
  • The character appears in early Chinese cosmological texts and philosophical discussions about the nature of reality.

FAQ