Usage note
天上指天空的上面，有太阳、月亮和星星。
Tiān shàng zhǐ tiānkōng de shàngmiàn, yǒu tàiyáng, yuèliàng hé xīngxīng.
In the sky refers to the upper part of the sky, with the sun, moon, and stars.
Context note
我们常常说天上有什么，比如云或者飞机。
Wǒmen chángcháng shuō tiān shàng yǒu shénme, bǐrú yún huòzhě fēijī.
We often say what is in the sky, like clouds or airplanes.
5 examples
天上有很多星星。
tiān shàng yǒu hěn duō xīng xīng。
There are many stars in the sky.
小鸟在天上飞。
xiǎo niǎo zài tiān shàng fēi。
Little birds fly in the sky.
天上有一朵白云。
tiān shàng yǒu yì duǒ bái yún。
There is a white cloud in the sky.
飞机在天上飞过。
fēi jī zài tiān shàng fēi guò。
An airplane flies across the sky.
晚上天上月亮很亮。
wǎn shàng tiān shàng yuè liàng hěn liàng。
At night, the moon in the sky is very bright.
5 mini stories
小明看到天上有一只风筝。他高兴地跳起来。
xiǎo míng kàn dào tiān shàng yǒu yì zhī fēng zheng。 tā gāo xìng dì tiào qǐ lái。
Xiao Ming saw a kite in the sky. He jumped up happily.
天上突然出现彩虹。孩子们都跑出来看。
tiān shàng tū rán chū xiàn cǎi hóng。 hái zi men dōu pǎo chū lái kàn。
A rainbow suddenly appeared in the sky. All the children ran out to see.
晚上天上星星很多。小红和妈妈一起数星星。
wǎn shàng tiān shàng xīng xīng hěn duō。 xiǎo hóng hé mā ma yì qǐ shù xīng xīng。
There are many stars in the sky at night. Xiao Hong and her mom count stars together.
天上有一架飞机。小明挥手说再见。
tiān shàng yǒu yí jià fēi jī。 xiǎo míng huī shǒu shuō zài jiàn。
There is an airplane in the sky. Xiao Ming waves and says goodbye.
太阳在天上发光。大家觉得很温暖。
tài yáng zài tiān shàng fā guāng。 dà jiā jué de hěn wēn nuǎn。
The sun shines in the sky. Everyone feels very warm.
Mini dialogue
看星星
A
晚上天上有很多星星。
Wǎnshang tiān shàng yǒu hěn duō xīngxing.
At night, there are many stars in the sky.
B
是啊，天上的星星真亮。
Shì a, tiān shàng de xīngxing zhēn liàng.
Yes, the stars in the sky are really bright.
放风筝
A
你看，天上有一只风筝。
Nǐ kàn, tiān shàng yǒu yī zhī fēngzheng.
Look, there is a kite in the sky.
B
风筝在天上飞得真高！
Fēngzheng zài tiān shàng fēi de zhēn gāo!
The kite is flying so high in the sky!
Related words and contrasts
similar
天空
tiān kōng
sky
Both mean 'sky', but 天上 is more about 'in the sky', while 天空 is the sky itself.
opposite
地下
dì xià
underground; on the ground
Opposite of 'in the sky'.
similar
空中
kōng zhōng
in the air
Similar to 天上, but 空中 can be lower, like a bird flying in the air.