天球
てんきゅう · tenkyuu (also spelled tenkyu)
Celestial sphere, the heavens
Other ways to say “celestial sphere” in Japanese →
flat · what is pitch accent?
How it’s used
A formal or astronomical term encountered in science writing, documentaries, or poetic contexts; not common in daily conversation.
Often confused with 'tenmon' (astronomy), but 'tenkyuu' refers specifically to the imaginary sphere, not the science.
Example sentences
天球は地球を中心に回っているように見える。
The celestial sphere appears to rotate around the Earth.
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彼は天球の地図を広げて星を探した。
He spread out a map of the celestial sphere and looked for stars.
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Questions
What does 天球 mean?
Celestial sphere, the heavens.
How do you pronounce 天球?
てんきゅう (tenkyuu). Pitch accent: heiban — flat. Press Listen above to hear it.
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