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宸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宸chénimperial palaceg, 10 strokes, radical 宀
宸chénimperial apartmentsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 宀
chén(chen2)chen T2
  1. 1imperial palace
  2. 2imperial apartments
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March 24, 2026

宸chén(chen2)

The character 宸 (chén) refers to the imperial palace or the residence of a sovereign in ancient China. It conveys a sense of grandeur and exclusivity, often used in historical or literary contexts to evoke the royal lifestyle.

Strokes10Radical宀
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the imperial palace was not just a residence but the center of political power and cultural development. The character 宸 evokes a deep respect for the historical significance of these royal spaces.

Memory tip

Imagine a grand palace (宸) where the emperor (the 'ch' sound in chén) lives. The roof (宸) of the palace is adorned with intricate designs, symbolizing its royal importance. Visualize the grandeur of the imperial life that takes place within these walls.

Meanings of 宸

chén(chen2)
1imperial palace
2imperial apartments
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 宸 means.

About 宸

宸Simplified
10Strokes
宀Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 宸

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Podcast: 宸

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AI Study Notes for 宸

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal or literary contexts, so it's best to avoid it in casual conversation. Common collocations include terms related to royalty and historical texts. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be confused with other similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 宸 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other characters relating to royalty, such as 王 (wáng, king) and 宫 (gōng, palace). Students should focus on understanding the historical significance of such terms in Chinese literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宸 (chén) with 宫 (gōng), thinking both mean the same, but 宸 specifically refers to the emperor's residence. Another common mistake is mispronouncing 宸; remember it’s pronounced 'chén', not 'chun'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宸

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Example

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Etymology of 宸

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

roof

Semantic (meaning)宀
+
Phonetic (sound)辰
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

宸 = 宀 + 辰. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 宸

IDS Structure⿱宀辰
宸Full character
=
宀gai4
top
辰chen2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 宸?

How to say imperial palace in Chinese

“imperial palace” in Chinese is宸chén

The character 宸 (chén) refers to the imperial palace or the residence of a sovereign in ancient China. It conveys a sense of grandeur and exclusivity, often used in historical or literary contexts to evoke the royal lifestyle.

When to use 宸

This character is often used in formal or literary contexts, so it's best to avoid it in casual conversation. Common collocations include terms related to royalty and historical texts. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be confused with other similar-sounding characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 宸 (chén) with 宫 (gōng), thinking both mean the same, but 宸 specifically refers to the emperor's residence. Another common mistake is mispronouncing 宸; remember it’s pronounced 'chén', not 'chun'.

Write 宸

宸

Practice writing 宸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 宸

宸 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

?澍____廴狈?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

Example Sentences for 宸 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
?澍宸廴狈?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

? ? shù chén yǐn? bèi ? dàn0 bǐ màn 0 dàn ān suān hé.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

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Word Family of 宸

Words containing this character1
宸chénimperial apartments

Frequently Asked Questions about 宸

While 宸 refers specifically to the imperial residence, 宫 (gōng) is a more general term for palace or hall.

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