() — pavilion; cabinet (government); shelf; rack

Definition

A literary/bound form almost always seen in compounds: 亭阁 (pavilion), 内阁 (cabinet), 阁楼 (loft). Rarely stands alone.

bound form
pavilioncabinet (government)shelfrack

Examples

  • Xīn chéng lì de nèi gé yóu zhèng fǔ gāo céng zǔ chéng.
    The newly formed cabinet is composed of high-level government officials.
  • Xīn zǒng lǐ zhèng zài zǔ jiàn tā de nèi gé.
    The new prime minister is forming his cabinet.
  • Shān dǐng shàng yǒu yí zuò gǔ lǎo de tíng gé.
    There is an ancient pavilion on the mountaintop.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閣; 阁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
méngate
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The traditional form 閣 pairs 門 (gate) with 各, which gives the pronunciation; this note is about 閣, not the simplified 阁.

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