wèixīng: 卫星 - Satellite

• Keywords: weixing, 卫星, what is weixing, Chinese for satellite, artificial satellite, satellite city, satellite TV in Chinese, China space program, 卫, 星
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for “satellite,” 卫星 (wèixīng). This comprehensive guide covers its literal meaning in space technology and its common figurative uses like “satellite city” (卫星城). Discover the cultural significance of satellites in modern China's national pride, and learn how to use 卫星 in practical, everyday sentences with detailed analysis for beginner to intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wèixīng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A natural or artificial body that revolves around a planet; a satellite.
• In a Nutshell: 卫星 (wèixīng) literally translates to “guard star.” It's the standard Chinese word for any satellite, both natural ones like the Moon and the thousands of man-made ones orbiting the Earth. The name itself creates a powerful image: a smaller “star” (星) that faithfully “guards” (卫) and circles a larger body. It's a key term in science and technology but also has important figurative uses in daily life.

• 卫 (wèi): This character means “to guard,” “to protect,” or “to defend.” Think of a bodyguard (保卫, bǎowèi) or a security guard (保安, bǎo'ān). It depicts a person patrolling around a perimeter.
• 星 (xīng): This character means “star” or a celestial body that shines in the sky. It's the same character used in star (星星, xīngxing) and planet (行星, xíngxīng).
• How they combine: Together, 卫 (wèi) and 星 (xīng) create a vivid and logical term: a “guarding star.” This perfectly describes a satellite's function and behavior, as it constantly circles a planet like a loyal guard on patrol.

In China, 卫星 (wèixīng) is more than just a scientific term; it is a powerful symbol of national strength, technological prowess, and modern development. While in the West, satellites are often seen as mundane infrastructure for GPS and TV, in China they are frequently discussed in the context of national achievement and ambition. The success of China's space program, including the Chang'e lunar missions (嫦娥工程) and the Tiangong space station (天宫空间站), is a tremendous source of national pride. A key part of this is the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (北斗卫星导航系统, Běidǒu Wèixīng Dǎoháng Xìtǒng), China's homegrown alternative to the American GPS system. Having its own satellite network is seen as crucial for national security and technological independence. Therefore, when you hear 卫星 mentioned in Chinese news or conversation, it often carries a connotation of progress, innovation, and China's rising status on the world stage.

The use of 卫星 can be divided into two main categories: literal and figurative.

• Literal (Science and Technology): This is the most common usage, referring to actual satellites.
  • 人造卫星 (rénzào wèixīng): Artificial satellite
  • 通信卫星 (tōngxìn wèixīng): Communications satellite
  • 气象卫星 (qìxiàng wèixīng): Weather satellite
  • 卫星导航 (wèixīng dǎoháng): Satellite navigation (like GPS or BeiDou)
• Figurative (Urban Planning, Media, etc.): The concept of something smaller revolving around a larger central entity is extended to other areas.
  • 卫星城 (wèixīng chéng): A satellite city or town. These are smaller cities on the outskirts of a major metropolis, economically and socially tied to the larger city.
  • 卫星电视 (wèixīng diànshì): Satellite television, often abbreviated to “卫视” (wèishì) in the names of TV channels (e.g., 湖南卫视 - Hunan TV).

• Example 1:
  • 中国成功发射了一颗新的卫星。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó chénggōng fāshè le yī kē xīn de wèixīng.
  • English: China successfully launched a new satellite.
  • Analysis: This is a typical sentence you would hear on the news. The measure word for satellites, rockets, or small celestial bodies is 颗 (kē).
• Example 2:
  • 月球是地球唯一的天然卫星。
  • Pinyin: Yuèqiú shì dìqiú wéiyī de tiānrán wèixīng.
  • English: The Moon is the Earth's only natural satellite.
  • Analysis: This example shows how 卫星 applies to natural bodies, not just man-made ones. 天然 (tiānrán) means “natural.”
• Example 3:
  • 很多在大城市工作的人，选择住在卫星城。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō zài dà chéngshì gōngzuò de rén, xuǎnzé zhù zài wèixīng chéng.
  • English: Many people who work in big cities choose to live in satellite towns.
  • Analysis: This is the most common figurative use of the term. 卫星城 (wèixīng chéng) is a very standard term in urban planning and real estate.
• Example 4:
  • 我的手机有卫星导航系统，再也不会迷路了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī yǒu wèixīng dǎoháng xìtǒng, zài yě bù huì mílù le.
  • English: My phone has a satellite navigation system, so I'll never get lost again.
  • Analysis: A very practical, everyday sentence. 卫星导航 (wèixīng dǎoháng) is the full term for what we often call GPS.
• Example 5:
  • 卫星云图显示明天会下大雨。
  • Pinyin: Wèixīng yúntú xiǎnshì míngtiān huì xià dàyǔ.
  • English: The satellite cloud map shows it will rain heavily tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This shows 卫星 used as an attributive noun, modifying 云图 (yúntú, cloud map).
• Example 6:
  • 我们家安装了卫星电视，可以看很多外国频道。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā ānzhuāng le wèixīng diànshì, kěyǐ kàn hěnduō wàiguó píndào.
  • English: Our family installed satellite TV, so we can watch many foreign channels.
  • Analysis: 卫星电视 (wèixīng diànshì) is the standard term for satellite television.
• Example 7:
  • 第一颗人造卫星是苏联发射的。
  • Pinyin: Dì yī kē rénzào wèixīng shì Sūlián fāshè de.
  • English: The first artificial satellite was launched by the Soviet Union.
  • Analysis: Here, the prefix 人造 (rénzào, man-made/artificial) is added for specificity.
• Example 8:
  • 这个国家的卫星技术非常发达。
  • Pinyin: Zhège guójiā de wèixīng jìshù fēicháng fādá.
  • English: This country's satellite technology is very advanced.
  • Analysis: 卫星技术 (wèixīng jìshù) is a common compound noun meaning “satellite technology.”
• Example 9:
  • 科学家利用卫星数据来监测全球变暖。
  • Pinyin: Kēxuéjiā lìyòng wèixīng shùjù lái jiāncè quánqiú biànnuǎn.
  • English: Scientists use satellite data to monitor global warming.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 卫星 can modify another noun, 数据 (shùjù, data), to mean “satellite data.”
• Example 10:
  • 如果没有通信卫星，我们就无法进行全球直播。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu tōngxìn wèixīng, wǒmen jiù wúfǎ jìnxíng quánqiú zhíbō.
  • English: If there were no communications satellites, we would be unable to conduct global live broadcasts.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a specific type, 通信卫星 (tōngxìn wèixīng), and shows a common “If…, then…” structure with 如果…就… (rúguǒ…jiù…).

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 卫星 from other celestial bodies.

• 卫星 (wèixīng) vs. 星星 (xīngxing) vs. 行星 (xíngxīng):
  • 卫星 (wèixīng): A satellite. It must orbit a larger body. The key is the “guard” (卫) character. The Moon is a 卫星.
  • 星星 (xīngxing): The general, colloquial word for a “star” that you see twinkling in the night sky.
  • 行星 (xíngxīng): A planet. It orbits a star. The key character is 行 (xíng), meaning “to walk” or “to travel,” referring to its movement across the sky. Earth is a 行星.
• Common Mistake: Pointing at the night sky and saying “那是一颗很亮的卫星 (nà shì yī kē hěn liàng de wèixīng).” Unless you are specifically pointing out the ISS or another visible satellite, this is incorrect. You should say “那是一颗很亮的星星 (nà shì yī kē hěn liàng de xīngxing)” for a star or “那是一颗行星 (nà shì yī kē xíngxīng)” for a planet like Venus. Always remember: a 卫星 must be orbiting something nearby (usually a planet).

• 宇宙 (yǔzhòu) - The universe; the vast space where satellites operate.
• 地球 (dìqiú) - Earth; the planet that most artificial satellites orbit.
• 月球 (yuèqiú) - The Moon; Earth's most famous natural satellite.
• 航天 (hángtiān) - Spaceflight, astronautics; the industry and science of sending things, including satellites, into space.
• 科技 (kējì) - Science and technology; the field to which satellites belong.
• 导航 (dǎoháng) - Navigation; a key function provided by satellite systems like GPS and BeiDou.
• 人造 (rénzào) - Artificial, man-made; a common prefix used with 卫星 to specify it's not a natural one.
• 卫星城 (wèixīng chéng) - Satellite city; the most common figurative use of the term.
• 北斗 (Běidǒu) - The Big Dipper, and more importantly, the name of China's proprietary satellite navigation system, a source of national pride.
• 发射 (fāshè) - To launch; the verb used for sending rockets and satellites into space.