銀河系(ぎんがけい)

銀河(ぎんが) (galaxy; Milky Way) + 系(けい) (system). Specifically refers to the Milky Way — the galaxy we live in. When discussing other galaxies, the term 銀河(ぎんが) alone is used.

Common collocations

• 銀河系(ぎんがけい)の中心(ちゅうしん) — the center of the galaxy
• 銀河系(ぎんがけい)の外(そと) — outside the galaxy
• 銀河系(ぎんがけい)の構造(こうぞう) — the structure of the galaxy

Related words

• 銀河(ぎんが) — galaxy; Milky Way — can refer to any galaxy or to the Milky Way poetically
• 天の川(あまのがわ) — the Milky Way — the traditional Japanese name, associated with the Tanabata festival
• 宇宙(うちゅう) — outer space; the universe