恒星 héngxīng star
(fixed) star
How to remember 恒星: 恒 constant + 星 star = star.
Characters
How it is used
- Astronomy term for a fixed star - a self-luminous star like the sun - 太阳是一颗恒星 (tàiyáng shì yì kē héngxīng) the sun is a star.
- Contrasts sharply with 行星 (xíngxíng, planet): 恒 = fixed/constant vs 行 = moving; the pair distinguishes stars from planets.
- Technical/scientific register; measure word 颗 (kē).