What is the Chinese Word for Nature?

Quick Take

In Chinese, both ancient and modern, several words exist that mean “nature.” Learn about the Chinese word for nature, such as 自然【zìrán= nature】and 大自然【dàzìrán=nature】, and see examples of how they are used.

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Ancient China did not have a specific term for “nature,” but had many terms with interrelated meanings, such as 天【tiān=heaven, nature (as the whole of the universe)】, 天地【tiāndì= heaven and earth】, and 大块【dàkuài=the great expanse】. 天【tiān= nature (as the whole of the universe)】 was the most frequently used.

Now, Chinese uses 自然【zìrán= nature (noun), naturally (adjective)】 as the Chinese word for nature, though sometimes 大自然【dàzìrán=nature】 is more precise. 大自然【dàzìrán】 can also be translated as “mother nature,” “all of nature,” or “the great nature,” whereas 自然【zìrán】 can also be translated as “the natural world,” the same meaning as 自然界【zì rán jiè= the natural world】.

The Use of 自然【zìrán】 or 大自然【dàzìrán】

a. 自然【zìrán=nature】or 大自然【dàzìrán=nature】 as a noun.

Example 1:

What is the nature?

大自然【dàzìrán=nature】是【shì】什么【shénme=what】？

大自然是什么？

Example 2:

I prefer the scenery of nature.

我【wǒ=I】更【gèng=more】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】大自然【dàzìrán=nature】的【de】风景【fēngjǐng=scenery】。

我更喜欢大自然的风景。

Example 3:

Man and nature must be living a harmonious life.

人【rén=man, human】与【yǔ=and】大自然【dàzìran=nature, mother nature】要【yào=must】和谐【héxié=harmonious 】生活【shēnghuó= life, live】。

人与大自然要和谐生活。

Example 4:

You may visit the nature of Sichuan.

你【nǐ=you】可以【kěyǐ=may】去【qù=go】四川【Sìchuān=Sichuan】的【de】自然【zìrán=nature】看看【kàn kàn =visit】。

你可以去四川的自然看看。

b.自然【zìrán=naturally】as an adjective.

Example 1:

Don’t be nervous, try to be natural.

Literally means, “Don’t be nervous, try to be a bit natural”.

别【bié=don’t】紧张【jǐnzhāng=nervous】，自然【zìrán=natural】一点【yīdiǎn=a bit】。

别紧张，自然一点。

Example 2:

This is the natural phenomena in the night.

这【zhè=this】是【shì=is】晚上【wǎnshàng=at night, in the evening】的【de】自然【zìrán=natural】现象【xiànxiàng= phenomena, phenomenon】。

这是晚上的自然现象。

太阳【tàiyáng=sun】

月【yuè=moon】 or 月亮【yuèliang= moon】

星星【xīngxīng=star】

大地【dàdì =earth, mother earth】

云【yún=cloud】

天上【tiān=sky , nature】

空气【kōngqì=air, atmosphere】

风景【fēngjǐng=scenery,landscape】

山【shān = mountain】

山谷【shāngǔ=valley】

沙漠【shāmò=desert】

湖【hú=lake】

河【hé=river】

海边【hǎibiān=seaside, beach】

大海【dàhǎi= sea, ocean】

天气【tiānqì =weather】

下雨【xiàyǔ= rainy】

风【fēng=wind】

雪【xuě=snow】

晴天【qíngtiān= sunny day】

夏天【xiàtiān=summer】

秋天【qiū tiān= autumn】

冬天【dōngtiān=winter】

春天【chūntiān=spring】

Example 1:

Older male cousin doesn’t like looking at the stars on the beach.

表哥【biǎogē= (maternal) older male cousin】不【bù=not】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】在【zài=at】海边【hǎibiān=seaside, beach】看【kàn=see, look at】星星【xīngxing=stars】。

表哥不喜欢在海边看星星。

Example 2:

It’s raining! Do you still want to climb the mountain?

下雨【xiàyǔ=rainy】了【le】！你【nǐ=you】还【hái=still】想【xiǎng= want to】去【qù=go】爬【pá=climb】【shān=mountain】吗【ma】？

下雨了！你还想去爬山吗？

Example 3:

I will definitely be able to get out of this desert.

I definitely can get out of this desert.

我【wǒ=I】肯定【kěndìng= definitely】能【néng=can, be able to】走出【zǒuchū= to walk away from】这【zhè=this】沙漠【shāmò=desert】！

我肯定能走出这沙漠！

Example 4:

Beijing is really hot in summer.

夏天【xiàtián=summer】，北京【BěiJīng=Beijing】真【zhēn=really】热【rè=hot】。

夏天，北京真热。

Example 5:

Beijing is really cold in winter.

冬天【dōngtián=winter】，北京【BěiJīng=Beijing】真【zhēn=really】冷【lěng=cold】。

冬天，北京真冷。

Example 6:

The snow is icy cold.

雪【xuě=ice and snow】很【hěn】冰【bīng= icy cold】。

雪很冰。

Note:

冷【lěng=cold】 and 热【rè=hot】are often used as an adjective for something that you can feel as physical reaction such as weather. 冰【bīng=icy cold】 is used as an adjective for the object that is very cold to the touch such as snow.