How to say "sky" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 空そらnounThe everyday word for the sky you see overhead, and by extension the air; use it for weather, clouds, birds, and looking up. It covers most senses of 'sky' in ordinary speech.
- 天てんnounGlossed as 'sky', but standing alone it has a literary flavor; in ordinary usage it chiefly appears inside other words and set expressions, so it is seldom the standalone word you want for the sky.
- nounThe loanword, heard mainly in names, titles, and loanword combinations; it is not the word you use in an ordinary sentence about the sky, where 空 is the natural choice.
- 上空じょうくうnounThe sky overhead or the upper air above a particular place, especially at altitude; typical of weather reports and aviation talk rather than casual remarks about a nice blue sky.
- 天空てんくうnounA literary-sounding word for the sky as the firmament overhead; it suits written or elevated descriptions of the sky rather than everyday conversation.
Use 空 for the everyday sky overhead; 上空 for the sky above a place or at high altitude; 天空 for a literary firmament; 天 and 「スカイ」 are met mainly inside other words, names, and set phrases.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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