Taxonomy of meanings for 天地:　　

  • UNIVERSE
    • NPabsingular collectivethe  entire world (consisting of the things in Heaven and on Earth); this world of things 郭象：萬物之總名也。成玄英：萬物者，自然之別稱。
    • NPabcosmologicalHeaven and Earth as cosmological constituents of the universe; the cosmic forces of the  universe (compare Yin and Yang)
    • VPiact, derivedact (naturally) like Heaven and Earth
    • NPabfigurativethe cosmic principles/vital energies of the Yin of Earth and Yang of Heaven. 宣潁：陰陽二氣CH
    • NPadN(the N) of/in the world (construed as a container)CH
    • NPplural, additiveheaven above the myriad things and the earth below the myriad things (respectively); Liezi 1990:10 范解;夫天地者，萬物之上下也。 徽宗 on Liezi: 「陰陽者，氣之大o 天地者，形之大oCH
    • NPabindefinitea world (cf. 別有天地)CH
    • NPcountedworlds between heavens and earthsCH
    • NPlimitedthe limited world of Heaven-and-EarthCH
    • NPab[adN]the principles underlying Heaven(ly Yang) and Earth(ly Yin) =二儀之理　jQuery3310903682127743804_1691757749437?CH
    • NPab[adN]the principles underlying Heaven(ly Yang) and Earth(ly Yin) =二儀之理CH
    • NPplace/spacespace/place 　between Heaven above and the Earth below; the space above the earth and below the sky＝universal 天下CH
    • NPlimited in timethe limited stretch of time during which Heaven and Earth existCH
  • GOD
    • NPplural, personifiedthe pair of deities of Heaven and Earth; the pair of Heaven and Earth as agents
    • NPfigurativea high deity like the deities (of) Heaven and (of) EarthCH
    • VPiact like the deities of Heaven and Earth; embody the virtues of divine Heaven and divine EarthCH
  • tiān dìWORLD
    • NPthe whole worldCH