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yuhangyuan
Jul. 23rd, 2012 07:20 amyuhangyuan (yǔ-háŋ-yuán) - n., a Chinese astronaut.
One of several competing terms. The first to appear in English language sources was taikonaut, a blend of Chinese taikong, space + Greek naut, sailor, but this has never been used in any Chinese government document, no doubt because of that blending. Instead, this is the most common term, from 宇航员, "universe travel personnel" -- that is, someone who is paid to work in space -- with hángtiānyuán (航天员), "personnel sailing in the sky" also in use. The most common term in Taiwan is tàikōng rén (太空人), "space man."
---L.
One of several competing terms. The first to appear in English language sources was taikonaut, a blend of Chinese taikong, space + Greek naut, sailor, but this has never been used in any Chinese government document, no doubt because of that blending. Instead, this is the most common term, from 宇航员, "universe travel personnel" -- that is, someone who is paid to work in space -- with hángtiānyuán (航天员), "personnel sailing in the sky" also in use. The most common term in Taiwan is tàikōng rén (太空人), "space man."
---L.
