Meaning
天空
tiān kōng
Sky
- 天
- sky, heaven
- 空
- empty, the open air
The everyday word for the sky.
Sky in Chinese
The Chinese word for sky is 天空 (tiān kōng). The everyday word for the sky.
天空
tiān kōng
Sky
What 天空 means.
天 began as a picture of a person with a large head: what is above us. It means both sky and heaven, as in 天命, the mandate of heaven.
- 天
- sky, heaven
- 空
- empty, the open air
Simplified and traditional
天空
天空
天空 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
天
tiān
Sky, heaven
- 天
- sky, heaven
One character for the sky and heaven itself.
About sky in Chinese
How do you write sky in Chinese?
Sky is 天空 in Chinese, pronounced tiān kōng. Sky 天 means “sky, heaven”, 空 means “empty, the open air”.
How do you pronounce 天空?
Say tiān (first tone, high and level), kōng (first tone, high and level). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 天空 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 天空 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
What other Chinese words mean sky?
天 (tiān): Sky, heaven One character for the sky and heaven itself.
Is 天空 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.