eaves · universe

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 宇 is a six-stroke character with the on-reading う.
• Basic usage: 宇宙(うちゅう) means the universe or space, while 宇宙船(うちゅうせん) means a spaceship traveling through it.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Space and a vehicle traveling through it
  • 広い宇宙 means the vast universe. 宇宙船 is a spaceship traveling through that space, with final 船 identifying a vehicle.
  • 宇宙船 is read うちゅうせん. Its initial 宇宙 part retains the reading うちゅう.