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宫殿 (gōng diàn) — palace

Definition

宫殿 is a formal word for a grand 'palace' — especially imperial or royal residences. Unlike 宫, it emphasizes the building itself, not cultural centers like 少年宫.

noun
palace
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 宫殿。
    Zhè zuò gōng diàn bǎo cún dé fēi cháng wán hǎo.
    This palace is very well preserved.
  • 宫殿。
    Tā men jì huà míng tiān qù cān guān nà zuò gǔ lǎo de gōng diàn.
    They plan to visit that ancient palace tomorrow.
  • 宫殿。
    Zhè zuò gōng diàn céng shì huáng dì de zhù suǒ.
    This palace was once the residence of the emperor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

宫gōngpalace
殿diànhall

“宫” and “殿” are both royal buildings, combined to mean palace.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 宮; 宫 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀mián
  • 呂呂lǚ

The traditional form 宮 is built from 宀 and 呂.

Open 宫 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
殳殳shūhand holding a weapon
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡱂
臀tún殿⁰diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

殿 pairs 𡱂 (buttocks, giving the sound) with 殳 (a hand holding a weapon) to show hitting the buttocks.

Open 殿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Buildings & Structures

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