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殿堂 (diàn táng) — (literally) palace, hall, grand temple building; (figuratively) sanctuary, shrine (the highest achievement in a field)

Definition

Literally 'palace hall,' but figuratively means the highest pinnacle of a field (殿堂 of science/art). More grand and figurative than the physical 大厅, and distinct from 宫殿 (a royal residence).

noun
(literally) palacehallgrand temple building(figuratively) sanctuaryshrine (the highest achievement in a field)
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 殿堂。
    Zhè zuò bó wù guǎn bèi yù wéi yì shù de diàn táng.
    This museum is hailed as an art sanctuary.
  • 殿堂。
    Kē xué jiā men mèng xiǎng jìn rù kē xué de zuì gāo diàn táng.
    Scientists dream of entering the highest shrine of science.
  • 殿堂。
    Gǔ dài de diàn táng zhì jīn réng rán lìng rén jìng wèi.
    The ancient halls still inspire awe today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

殿diànpalace hall
堂tánggreat hall

“殿” (palace hall) and “堂” (great hall) together name grand buildings.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng堂táng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Open 堂 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Buildings & StructuresReligion & Belief

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.