てん

heaven, sky

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Core Meanings

The character primarily means "sky" or "heaven," referring to the physical sky above or the concept of heaven in a cultural or religious sense. It also commonly means "day" when used in everyday expressions.

Usage in Daily Life

In daily conversation, is often used to talk about the weather (天气 tiānqì) or to specify days (e.g., 今天 jīntiān meaning "today" and měitiān meaning "every day"). It is a very common word in time expressions.

Common Collocations

  • 天气 (tiānqì): weather — used to discuss weather conditions.
  • 今天 (jīntiān): today — specifies the current day.
  • (měitiān): every day — indicates daily routine or frequency.

Nuances and Tips

When is used alone, context determines whether it means "sky" or "day." For example, in 天上 (tiān shàng), it means "in the sky," while in 今天 (jīntiān), it means "day." Avoid confusing with (rì), which also means "day" but is more formal and often used in dates or written language.

Example Sentences

The weather is nice today, perfect for going out for a walk.

He gets up at six o'clock every morning.

The stars in the sky are very beautiful.