阙 (quē) — paired watchtowers at an imperial palace gate; also refers to the imperial palace
Definition
Literary term for the paired watchtowers flanking a palace or city gate, and by extension the imperial palace itself. Bound form: it never stands alone, only in compounds like 宫阙.
bound form
paired watchtowers at an imperial palace gatealso refers to the imperial palace
Examples
- 阙。Gōng quē zài xī yáng xià xiǎn de shí fēn zhuàng guān.The palace watchtowers look very magnificent in the sunset.
- 阙。Chéng quē zài huáng hūn shí jǐng sè hěn měi.The city gate towers are very beautiful at dusk.
- 阙。Gǔ rén de gōng quē xiàng zhēng zhe wáng quán.The ancient palace watchtowers symbolized royal authority.
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