xīngxì: 星系 - Galaxy, Star System

• Keywords: xingxi, 星系, galaxy in Chinese, star system Chinese, Milky Way Chinese, Chinese astronomy, learn Chinese science, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 6 words
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for “galaxy,” 星系 (xīngxì). This guide explains how the characters 星 (xīng) for “star” and 系 (xì) for “system” combine to form this essential term in science and sci-fi. Discover its use in modern contexts, from astronomy to blockbuster movies, and understand the crucial difference between 星系 (xīngxì), 银河系 (yínhéxì - Milky Way Galaxy), and 太阳系 (tàiyángxì - Solar System). With 10+ practical example sentences, you'll be ready to discuss the cosmos in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xīngxì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A gravitationally bound system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter.
• In a Nutshell: 星系 (xīngxì) is the direct and scientific Chinese term for “galaxy.” It's a straightforward compound word that literally means “star system.” While its primary use is in astronomy and science, it has become more common in popular culture due to the popularity of science fiction and China's advancements in space exploration.

• 星 (xīng): Star. This character is a combination of 日 (rì), meaning “sun,” and 生 (shēng), meaning “birth” or “life.” You can think of it as a shining object “born” in the sky, just like our sun.
• 系 (xì): System, department, to connect. The character's ancient form depicted connected threads, representing a linkage, a relationship, or an organized structure.

When combined, 星系 (xīngxì) logically and literally means a “system of stars,” perfectly describing the concept of a galaxy.

The modern astronomical concept of a 星系 (xīngxì) is a relatively recent import into the Chinese language, mirroring its development in Western science. Historically, Chinese astronomy was one of the most advanced in the world, but its focus was on mapping 星座 (xīngzuò - constellations) and celestial events as seen from Earth, rather than understanding the nature of galaxies as separate “islands” of stars. In modern China, the term 星系 (xīngxì) has gained significance in two main areas:

1.  **National Pride in Science:** As China's space program (e.g., lunar and Mars missions) achieves major milestones, scientific vocabulary, including **星系**, has entered the public consciousness as a symbol of technological advancement and national ambition.
2.  **Popularity of Science Fiction:** The global success of authors like Liu Cixin (刘慈欣), author of "The Three-Body Problem" (《三体》), has popularized complex cosmological concepts. In this context, **星系** is not just a scientific term but a setting for epic stories of interstellar travel, alien civilizations, and the future of humanity.

Unlike a culturally deep-seated term like 关系 (guānxi), 星系 is a universal scientific concept. The main cultural difference lies in its modern associations: in the West, “galaxy” might first evoke “Star Wars,” while in modern China, it's increasingly linked to real-world space exploration and highly acclaimed domestic sci-fi.

星系 is primarily used in formal, educational, or specific contexts. It's not typically a word used in everyday small talk unless the topic is specifically science or fiction.

• In Education and Science: This is the standard, formal term used in textbooks, academic papers, documentaries, and museums. It is used precisely as “galaxy” is in English.
• In Science Fiction (科幻 - kēhuàn): The term is ubiquitous in sci-fi novels, films, and games to describe different galaxies that characters travel to or originate from.
• As a Metaphor: In business or tech journalism, it's sometimes used metaphorically to describe a vast and complex ecosystem of interconnected companies or products, such as “the Alibaba galaxy” (阿里巴巴星系) to refer to its many subsidiary companies. This is a creative and less common usage.

The term is neutral and carries no inherent positive or negative connotation.

• Example 1:
  • 宇宙中有无数个星系，每个都包含数十亿颗恒星。
  • Pinyin: Yǔzhòu zhōng yǒu wúshù ge xīngxì, měi ge dōu bāohán shù shí yì kē héngxīng.
  • English: There are countless galaxies in the universe, each containing billions of stars.
  • Analysis: A straightforward, factual sentence you might find in a science textbook. It uses 星系 as a general noun.
• Example 2:
  • 仙女座星系是距离我们银河系最近的大型星系。
  • Pinyin: Xiānnǚzuò xīngxì shì jùlí wǒmen yínhéxì zuìjìn de dàxíng xīngxì.
  • English: The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest major galaxy to our Milky Way Galaxy.
  • Analysis: This example shows how 星系 is used with a proper name (仙女座 - Andromeda) and contrasts it with the specific name for our galaxy, 银河系.
• Example 3:
  • 这部科幻电影讲述了一个跨越多个星系的冒险故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù kēhuàn diànyǐng jiǎngshù le yí ge kuàyuè duō ge xīngxì de màoxiǎn gùshi.
  • English: This sci-fi movie tells an adventure story that spans multiple galaxies.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the common usage of 星系 in the context of fiction and entertainment.
• Example 4:
  • 天文学家通过哈勃望远镜观测到了一个非常古老的星系。
  • Pinyin: Tiānwénxuéjiā tōngguò Hābó wàngyuǎnjìng guāncè dào le yí ge fēicháng gǔlǎo de xīngxì.
  • English: Astronomers observed a very ancient galaxy using the Hubble Telescope.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might hear in a news report or documentary about science.
• Example 5:
  • 我们的飞船的目标是位于三百万光年外的一个遥远星系。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de fēichuán de mùbiāo shì wèiyú sānbǎi wàn guāngnián wài de yí ge yáoyuǎn xīngxì.
  • English: The destination of our spaceship is a distant galaxy located three million light-years away.
  • Analysis: Another classic sci-fi sentence structure, showing 星系 as a destination.
• Example 6:
  • 星系的形状各不相同，有的是旋涡状的，有的是椭圆状的。
  • Pinyin: Xīngxì de xíngzhuàng gè bù xiāngtóng, yǒu de shì xuánwō zhuàng de, yǒu de shì tuǒyuán zhuàng de.
  • English: The shapes of galaxies vary; some are spiral-shaped, and some are elliptical.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the characteristics of galaxies, common in an educational context.
• Example 7:
  • 黑洞通常位于星系的中心。
  • Pinyin: Hēidòng tōngcháng wèiyú xīngxì de zhōngxīn.
  • English: Black holes are usually located at the center of galaxies.
  • Analysis: A simple, declarative sentence linking two scientific concepts.
• Example 8:
  • 两个星系的碰撞是一个漫长而壮观的过程。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng ge xīngxì de pèngzhuàng shì yí ge màncháng ér zhuàngguān de guòchéng.
  • English: The collision of two galaxies is a long and spectacular process.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 星系 as the subject of an action (collision).
• Example 9:
  • 他对星系的演化和形成有很深的研究。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì xīngxì de yǎnhuà hé xíngchéng yǒu hěn shēn de yánjiū.
  • English: He has conducted deep research on the evolution and formation of galaxies.
  • Analysis: Shows how 星系 can be the object of study or research.
• Example 10:
  • 这家科技巨头的业务版图就像一个庞大的星系，覆盖了各个领域。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā kējì jùtóu de yèwù bǎntú jiù xiàng yí ge pángdà de xīngxì, fùgài le gège lǐngyù.
  • English: This tech giant's business landscape is like a vast galaxy, covering various fields.
  • Analysis: A clear example of the metaphorical use of 星系 to describe a complex business ecosystem.

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing between 星系 (xīngxì), 银河系 (yínhéxì), and 太阳系 (tàiyángxì). Mixing these up is like confusing “building” with “The White House.”

• 星系 (xīngxì) - Galaxy (General Term): Use this to talk about any galaxy in the universe. It's the generic category.
  • e.g., “Andromeda is a galaxy.” (仙女座是一个星系。)
• 银河系 (yínhéxì) - The Milky Way Galaxy (Our Specific Galaxy): Use this only when referring to our own home galaxy. The character 银 (yín) means “silver” and 河 (hé) means “river,” so it literally means “Silver River System.”
  • e.g., “Earth is in the Milky Way Galaxy.” (地球在银河系里。)
• 太阳系 (tàiyángxì) - Solar System (Our Sun's System): This is a much, much smaller system, consisting of our Sun (太阳) and the planets orbiting it. It is just one of billions of star systems within the Milky Way Galaxy.
  • e.g., “Mars is a planet in our Solar System.” (火星是太阳系里的一颗行星。)

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 我住在星系里。 (Wǒ zhù zài xīngxì lǐ.) - “I live in a galaxy.” This is grammatically correct but unnaturally vague, like an American saying “I live in a country.”
• Correct: 我住在银河系里。 (Wǒ zhù zài Yínhéxì lǐ.) - “I live in the Milky Way Galaxy.” This is specific and correct.
• More Correct: 我住在太阳系里。 (Wǒ zhù zài Tàiyángxì lǐ.) - “I live in the Solar System.” This is also correct and even more specific.

• 宇宙 (yǔzhòu) - Universe. The all-encompassing concept that contains every galaxy.
• 银河系 (yínhéxì) - The Milky Way Galaxy. The proper name for the specific galaxy we inhabit.
• 太阳系 (tàiyángxì) - Solar System. The star system we live in, located within the Milky Way Galaxy.
• 恒星 (héngxīng) - Star (the scientific term, literally “constant star”). The primary component of a galaxy.
• 行星 (xíngxīng) - Planet (literally “moving star”). A celestial body orbiting a star.
• 星球 (xīngqiú) - A general term for a planet or celestial body.
• 星座 (xīngzuò) - Constellation. A pattern of stars as seen from Earth, an observational grouping, not a physical system like a galaxy.
• 星云 (xīngyún) - Nebula. A cloud of gas and dust in space, often where stars are born.
• 天文学 (tiānwénxué) - Astronomy. The scientific study of celestial objects.
• 科幻 (kēhuàn) - Science Fiction. A genre where the term 星系 is frequently used.