Learn a Chinese Character - 宫

1. Character Basics

Radical: 宀 (mián, roof, indicates related to buildings or shelter)

Stroke Count: 9

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gōng (First tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: Palace; temple; court; imperial; room; chamber; uterus; palace-shaped object

The character 宫 (gōng) primarily refers to palaces, temples, or other grand buildings, especially those associated with royalty or religion. It can also denote rooms or chambers, and has specialized meanings in anatomy.

4. Common Words

• 故宫 (Gùgōng) - Forbidden City
  Example: 故宫是中国明清两代的皇家宫殿。(Gùgōng shì Zhōngguó Míng Qīng liǎng dài de huángjiā gōngdiàn.) - The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China.
• 宫廷 (Gōngtíng) - Royal court; imperial palace
  Example: 古代宫廷里有很多规矩。(Gǔdài gōngtíng lǐ yǒu hěn duō guījǔ.) - There were many rules in ancient imperial palaces.
• 宫殿 (Gōngdiàn) - Palace; large hall
  Example: 这座宫殿建筑非常壮观。(Zhè zuò gōngdiàn jiànzhù fēicháng zhuàngguān.) - This palace building is very magnificent.
• 皇宫 (Huánggōng) - Imperial palace; royal residence
  Example: 皇帝住在皇宫里。(Huángdì zhù zài huánggōng lǐ.) - The emperor lives in the imperial palace.
• 子宫 (Zǐgōng) - Uterus
  Example: 这是女性生殖系统中的子宫。(Zhè shì nǚxìng shēngzhí xìtǒng zhōng de zǐgōng.) - This is the uterus in the female reproductive system.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun

Usage Patterns:

• As a standalone noun: 宫 (palace)
• In compound nouns: 故宫 (Forbidden City), 宫廷 (royal court), 宫殿 (palace hall)
• In specialized terms: 子宫 (uterus), 宫灯 (palace lantern)

Common Collocations:

• 故宫博物院 (Gùgōng Bówùyuàn) - Palace Museum
• 宫廷艺术 (Gōngtíng Yìshù) - Court art
• 宫廷剧 (Gōngtíng Jù) - Palace drama
• 宫廷斗争 (Gōngtíng Dòuzhēng) - Palace intrigue
• 文化宫 (Wénhuà Gōng) - Cultural palace

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 宫 (gōng) carries significant historical and cultural weight:

• Imperial Symbolism: It is strongly associated with royalty, power, and nobility, as seen in structures like the Forbidden City (故宫 Gùgōng) in Beijing, which served as the imperial palace for over 500 years.
• Architectural Significance: Traditional Chinese palaces are renowned for their grand scale, intricate design, and symbolic layout, reflecting ancient Chinese cosmological beliefs and social hierarchy.
• Religious Context: The character is also used in the names of important Taoist and Buddhist temples, such as 太清宫 (Tàiqīng Gōng) and 雍和宫 (Yōnghé Gōng), indicating sacred spaces.
• Cultural Heritage: Palace architecture, art, and artifacts represent some of the highest achievements of Chinese civilization, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and artistic expression.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Here are some tips to help you remember the character 宫 (gōng):

• Component Breakdown: The character consists of two parts:
  • 宀 (mián) at the top, which means "roof" or "shelter"
  • 吕 (lǚ) at the bottom, which originally meant "spine" or "backbone"
• Visual Association: Imagine a grand palace with a high roof (宀) covering the royal family (represented by 吕) living inside.
• Mnemonic Sentence: "宫殿的屋顶像宀，里面住着吕家人" (Gōngdiàn de wūdǐng xiàng mián, lǐmiàn zhù zhe lǚ jiārén) - "The roof of the palace looks like 宀, and the Lǚ family lives inside."
• Stroke Order Practice: Write the character following this order:
  1. 丶 (dot) - top left
  2. 丶 (dot) - top right
  3. フ (hook) - covering the top
  4. 丨 (vertical stroke) - left side of 吕
  5. 𠃍 (horizontal hook) - top of left part of 吕
  6. 一 (horizontal stroke) - bottom of left part of 吕
  7. 丨 (vertical stroke) - right side of 吕
  8. 𠃍 (horizontal hook) - top of right part of 吕
  9. 一 (horizontal stroke) - bottom of right part of 吕