taikong

Taikong (太空, tàikōng) is the standard pinyin rendering of the Chinese term meaning outer space. The characters literally translate as "great sky" and describe the region beyond Earth’s atmosphere. In modern Mandarin, taikong is used in scientific, educational, and popular contexts to refer to space beyond the stratosphere.

Common compounds include 太空站 (tàikōng zhàn, space station), 太空任务 (tàikōng rènwu, space mission), 太空船 (tàikōng chuán, spacecraft), and 太空望远镜 (tàikōng wàngyuǎnjìng, space telescope). The term appears in civil space programs, astronomy curricula, news reporting, and science fiction.

Taikong is distinct from the related term 宇宙 (yǔzhòu), which more broadly denotes the universe or cosmos. While 太空 emphasizes the physical space around the planet, 宇宙 can refer to the entire universe, including its contents and origins.

Outside of Chinese-language usage, taikong may appear as a romanized form in names, brands, or titles that adopt Chinese terminology. In proper names, pronunciation and meaning will depend on context and character choice.