宇 means “universe, space, eaves”

う · u

Also: roof, house, heaven

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 6 strokes

The story

A roof (宀) over 于: 宇 first meant a house's eaves. Picture them spreading to cover everything: an ancient Chinese text calls all of space 宇 and all of time 宙, and together they make 宇宙, the universe.

Used in 宇宙 (uchuu, universe/space), 宇宙人 (uchuujin, alien), and 宇宙飛行士 (uchuu hikoushi, astronaut)

More from Halls & Hidden Corners

• 奥 interior
• 殿 palace
• 隅 corner
• 囲 surround
• 裏 back
• 庫 storehouse
• 底 bottom

Learn 宇 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.